Composer

:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1904

Average_duration

:

2:11

Bright is the Ring of Words is a song cycle composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1954. The premiere of the work was given on 17th November 1954 at the Wigmore Hall in London, with tenor Peter Pears and pianist Benjamin Britten performing. The song cycle consists of five movements, each setting a poem by a different poet. The first movement, "Bright is the Ring of Words," sets a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. The second movement, "I Have Trod the Upward and the Downward Slope," sets a poem by A.E. Housman. The third movement, "I Have Kissed Young Love on the Lips," sets a poem by Walter de la Mare. The fourth movement, "Silent Noon," sets a poem by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The final movement, "Heart's Music," sets a poem by Ralph Vaughan Williams himself. The characteristics of the song cycle are typical of Vaughan Williams' style, with a focus on melody and harmony. The vocal line is often lyrical and expressive, with the piano accompaniment providing a rich harmonic backdrop. The settings of the poems are sensitive to the text, with the music reflecting the mood and meaning of the words. Overall, Bright is the Ring of Words is a beautiful and evocative song cycle, showcasing Vaughan Williams' skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of poetry in music.

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