Composer

:

Ivor Gurney

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

4:40

Ivor Gurney's "The Folly of Being Comforted" is a song cycle composed in 1919, with a premiere performance in 1920. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which sets a poem by Irish poet W.B. Yeats to music. The first movement, "The Folly of Being Comforted," sets Yeats' poem of the same name. The music is characterized by a mournful, introspective melody that reflects the poem's themes of loss and regret. The second movement, "All Night," is a more upbeat and lively piece that captures the poem's sense of energy and movement. The third movement, "The Host of the Air," is a haunting and atmospheric piece that evokes the supernatural elements of Yeats' poem. The fourth movement, "The Song of Wandering Aengus," is perhaps the most famous of the cycle, and features a simple, folk-like melody that perfectly captures the poem's sense of wonder and enchantment. The final movement, "The Cloths of Heaven," is a gentle and tender piece that sets Yeats' famous love poem to music. The melody is simple and understated, allowing the beauty of the poem's language to shine through. Overall, "The Folly of Being Comforted" is a deeply emotional and introspective work that showcases Gurney's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of Yeats' poetry in music. The cycle is a testament to the enduring power of Yeats' words, and to the timeless beauty of Gurney's music.

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