Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1941

Average_duration

:

2:40

"Underneath the Abject Willow" is a song composed by Benjamin Britten in 1945. It was premiered on May 10, 1945, at the Wigmore Hall in London, with Britten himself accompanying the singer, Peter Pears, on the piano. The song is part of Britten's song cycle "The Holy Sonnets of John Donne," which consists of nine songs based on the poems of the 16th-century English poet John Donne. "Underneath the Abject Willow" is the seventh song in the cycle and is characterized by its haunting melody and melancholic tone. The song is in the key of E-flat minor and is marked "Lento, molto espressivo" (slow, very expressive). It is divided into three sections, each with its own distinct character. The first section begins with a mournful piano introduction, which sets the somber mood of the song. The singer then enters, singing the first line of the poem, "Underneath the abject willow." The melody is simple and repetitive, with the singer repeating the same phrase several times, each time with a different inflection. The piano accompaniment is sparse, with long, sustained chords that create a sense of emptiness and despair. The second section of the song is more agitated, with the singer's voice rising in intensity as he sings, "Sits the sad and moaning dove." The piano accompaniment becomes more active, with rapid arpeggios and dissonant chords that create a sense of unrest and turmoil. The final section of the song returns to the mournful mood of the opening, with the singer repeating the first line of the poem several times, each time with a different inflection. The piano accompaniment is once again sparse, with long, sustained chords that create a sense of finality and resignation. Overall, "Underneath the Abject Willow" is a powerful and moving song that captures the sense of despair and hopelessness expressed in John Donne's poem. Britten's use of simple melodies, sparse piano accompaniment, and shifting tonalities creates a haunting and unforgettable musical experience.

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