Composer

:

Ivor Gurney

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

1:30

"When Death to either shall come" is a song composed by Ivor Gurney, an English composer and poet, in 1916. The song was premiered in 1917 and is part of a larger song cycle called "The Western Playland." The song is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct characteristics. The first movement is slow and mournful, with a sense of foreboding and sadness. The second movement is more upbeat and lively, with a sense of hope and optimism. The final movement returns to the mournful tone of the first, but with a sense of acceptance and resignation. The lyrics of the song are taken from a poem by John Masefield, and deal with the theme of death and the inevitability of its arrival. The first movement speaks of the fear and uncertainty that comes with the knowledge of death, while the second movement speaks of the joy and beauty of life, and the hope that death is not the end. The final movement speaks of the acceptance of death, and the knowledge that it is a natural part of life. Gurney's music is characterized by its use of modal harmonies and folk-like melodies, which give the song a timeless quality. The use of dissonance and chromaticism in the first and third movements adds to the sense of unease and uncertainty, while the use of major keys in the second movement adds to the sense of hope and optimism. Overall, "When Death to either shall come" is a powerful and moving song that deals with one of the most universal themes in human experience. Gurney's music captures the complex emotions that come with the knowledge of death, and his use of modal harmonies and folk-like melodies gives the song a timeless quality that speaks to audiences across generations.

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