Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1941

Average_duration

:

1:50

"What's in your mind?" is a song cycle composed by Benjamin Britten in 1934. The premiere of the work took place on May 10, 1935, at the Wigmore Hall in London, with Britten accompanying the singer, Sophie Wyss, on the piano. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which sets a poem by W.H. Auden. The first movement, "Stop all the clocks," is a mournful elegy that sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The second movement, "Johnny," is a playful and whimsical song that tells the story of a young boy who dreams of becoming a sailor. The third movement, "Boats sail on the rivers," is a contemplative piece that explores the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The fourth movement, "If this be a rose," is a love song that uses the metaphor of a rose to express the intensity of the speaker's feelings. The final movement, "Midnight on the Great Western," is a haunting and atmospheric piece that evokes the loneliness and isolation of a train journey. Throughout the cycle, Britten's piano accompaniment is both supportive and expressive, providing a rich and varied backdrop for Wyss's singing. The vocal writing is characterized by Britten's sensitivity to the text, with each word and phrase given careful attention and shaping. Overall, "What's in your mind?" is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Britten's skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the human experience.

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