Composer

:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Publication Date

:

1934

Average_duration

:

2:31

"She's like the Swallow" is a traditional Newfoundland folk song arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1949. The piece was premiered in London in 1950 by the soprano Joan Stuart and the pianist Michael Mullinar. The song is a part of Vaughan Williams' collection of folk songs from around the world, which he arranged for voice and piano. The piece is in a simple ABA form, with the A section being a slow and mournful melody, and the B section being a faster and more lively tune. The song is characterized by its haunting melody and melancholic lyrics, which tell the story of a woman who is compared to a swallow, flying away from her lover. The first movement of the piece is marked "Andante con moto" and is in the key of G minor. The melody is introduced by the piano, with the voice entering shortly after. The melody is simple and repetitive, with the voice rising and falling in a mournful manner. The second movement is marked "Allegro vivace" and is in the key of G major. The melody is faster and more lively, with the voice soaring over the piano accompaniment. The final movement returns to the A section, with the melody returning to the mournful and slow pace of the first movement. The piece ends with a quiet and reflective piano coda. Overall, "She's like the Swallow" is a beautiful and haunting piece of music that showcases Vaughan Williams' skill as an arranger of folk songs. The piece is a testament to the enduring power of traditional music and the ability of composers to breathe new life into old melodies.

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