Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

ca. 1960

Average_duration

:

2:10

"How sweet the answer" is a song composed by Benjamin Britten in 1957. It was premiered on July 14, 1957, at the Aldeburgh Festival, with Peter Pears as the tenor soloist and Britten himself at the piano. The song is part of a song cycle titled "The Holy Sonnets of John Donne," which consists of nine songs based on the poems of the 16th-century English poet John Donne. "How sweet the answer" is the seventh song in the cycle and is based on Donne's poem of the same name. The song is in the key of E-flat major and is marked "Andante con moto" (moderately slow with motion). It is a simple and lyrical song, with a flowing piano accompaniment that supports the vocal line. The vocal melody is characterized by long, sweeping phrases that are expressive and emotive. The song is divided into two sections, with the first section being a setting of the first four lines of Donne's poem. The second section is a setting of the last four lines of the poem. The first section is marked by a sense of longing and yearning, with the vocal line rising and falling in a gentle arc. The second section is more contemplative, with the vocal line becoming more introspective and reflective. The song is characterized by Britten's use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and unease. However, the tension is resolved in the final chord, which is a simple and consonant E-flat major chord. This resolution creates a sense of closure and completeness, which is in keeping with the spiritual themes of the song cycle. Overall, "How sweet the answer" is a beautiful and poignant song that showcases Britten's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the emotional depth of Donne's poetry. It is a testament to the enduring power of both Britten and Donne's work and remains a beloved piece in the classical music repertoire.

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