Composer

:

Roger Quilter

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1906

Average_duration

:

2:16

"To Daises, Op. 8/4" is a song composed by Roger Quilter, a British composer known for his art songs. The song was composed in 1908 and premiered the same year. It is part of a collection of six songs titled "Three Shakespeare Songs" and is based on a poem by Robert Herrick. The song is written for a solo voice and piano accompaniment. It is in the key of G major and has a moderate tempo. The song is divided into three sections, each with its own distinct character. The first section is marked "Gently" and is characterized by a flowing melody in the piano accompaniment. The vocal line is lyrical and expressive, with a gentle, lilting quality. The lyrics describe the beauty of daisies and their fleeting nature, with lines such as "We have short time to stay, as you, We have as short a spring." The second section is marked "With more motion" and is more energetic than the first. The piano accompaniment features a lively, syncopated rhythm, while the vocal line is more declamatory and forceful. The lyrics describe the daisies as "bold" and "brave," with a sense of defiance in the face of their inevitable demise. The final section is marked "Slower" and returns to the gentle, flowing character of the first section. The vocal line is more introspective, with a sense of resignation and acceptance. The lyrics describe the daisies as "fair pledges of a fruitful tree," suggesting that their beauty and transience are part of a larger cycle of life and death. Overall, "To Daises, Op. 8/4" is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the fleeting beauty of nature and the inevitability of mortality. Quilter's sensitive and expressive music perfectly complements Herrick's timeless poetry, making this song a beloved classic of the art song repertoire.

More....