Composer

:

Michael Head

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:44

Michael Head's "A Blackbird Singing" is a song cycle composed in 1949 for voice and piano. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which sets a poem by a different poet. The premiere of the work was given by the tenor Peter Pears and the composer at the Wigmore Hall in London on 17th May 1949. The first movement, "A Blackbird Singing," sets a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti. The music is characterized by a lilting, pastoral melody in the piano, which is accompanied by a simple, yet expressive vocal line. The second movement, "The Salley Gardens," sets a poem by the Irish poet W.B. Yeats. The music is more melancholic, with a haunting melody in the piano and a plaintive vocal line. The third movement, "The Ash Grove," sets a traditional Welsh folk song. The music is lively and rhythmic, with a jaunty piano accompaniment and a playful vocal line. The fourth movement, "The Cuckoo," sets a poem by the English poet John Clare. The music is characterized by a lilting, bird-like melody in the piano, which is echoed in the vocal line. The fifth movement, "The Green Hills of Somerset," sets a poem by the English poet Robert Graves. The music is more contemplative, with a gentle, flowing melody in the piano and a reflective vocal line. The final movement, "The Ships of Arcady," sets a poem by the English poet John Masefield. The music is more dramatic, with a sweeping, romantic melody in the piano and a soaring vocal line. Overall, "A Blackbird Singing" is characterized by its lyrical melodies, expressive harmonies, and sensitive treatment of the texts. The cycle is a testament to Michael Head's skill as a composer of art songs, and it remains a popular and beloved work in the repertoire.

More....