Composer

:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song Cycle

Compose Date

:

1908 - 1909

Average_duration

:

22:25

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

On Wenlock Edge is a song cycle composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1909. The work is based on six poems from A. E. Housman's collection A Shropshire Lad. The premiere of the work was given on October 15, 1909, at the Aeolian Hall in London, with tenor Gervase Elwes and pianist Ivor Gurney. The work is scored for tenor voice, piano, and string quartet. The six movements are: 1. On Wenlock Edge 2. From far, from eve and morning 3. Is my team ploughing? 4. Oh, when I was in love with you 5. Bredon Hill 6. Clun The work is characterized by its use of modal harmonies and folk-like melodies. Vaughan Williams was heavily influenced by English folk music, and this is evident in the use of pentatonic scales and modal harmonies throughout the work. The string quartet is used to great effect, providing a rich and varied accompaniment to the tenor voice. The first movement, "On Wenlock Edge," sets the tone for the entire work. The tenor voice sings of the beauty of the Shropshire countryside, while the piano and string quartet provide a lush and evocative accompaniment. The second movement, "From far, from eve and morning," is a more introspective piece, with the tenor voice singing of lost love. The third movement, "Is my team ploughing?" is a dialogue between a dead man and his friend. The dead man asks his friend if his former love still thinks of him, to which the friend replies that she has forgotten him. The fourth movement, "Oh, when I was in love with you," is a nostalgic piece, with the tenor voice reminiscing about a past love. The fifth movement, "Bredon Hill," is a hauntingly beautiful piece, with the tenor voice singing of the passing of time and the inevitability of death. The final movement, "Clun," is a lively and energetic piece, with the tenor voice singing of the joys of youth and the pleasures of life. Overall, On Wenlock Edge is a masterpiece of English song, showcasing Vaughan Williams' skill as a composer and his deep love for the English countryside and its folk traditions.

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