Composer

:

John Blow

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1695

Average_duration

:

6:17

'No, Lesbia, No, You Ask in Vain' is a beautiful and melancholic song composed by John Blow, one of the most important English composers of the Baroque era. The song was composed in the late 17th century and was first performed in London in 1683. The song is a part of Blow's collection of songs called 'Amphion Anglicus', which was published in 1700. The collection contains a total of 22 songs, and 'No, Lesbia, No, You Ask in Vain' is the 14th song in the collection. The song is composed in a slow and mournful tempo, with a simple and elegant melody that perfectly captures the sadness and longing of the lyrics. The song is written in the key of D minor and has a simple harmonic structure, with a repeating chord progression that creates a sense of melancholy and longing. The song is divided into three movements, with the first and third movements being in the same tempo and key, while the second movement is in a faster tempo and a different key. The first movement begins with a simple and elegant melody played by the harpsichord, which is then joined by the voice singing the first verse of the song. The second movement is more lively and features a more complex melody, with the voice and harpsichord playing off each other in a playful and flirtatious manner. The third movement returns to the slow and mournful tempo of the first movement, with the voice singing the final verse of the song accompanied by the harpsichord. The lyrics of the song are a lament from the speaker to Lesbia, expressing his sadness and longing for her. The speaker tells Lesbia that she asks in vain for him to forget her, as he cannot help but think of her constantly. The lyrics are simple and elegant, perfectly complementing the melody of the song. Overall, 'No, Lesbia, No, You Ask in Vain' is a beautiful and melancholic song that perfectly captures the sadness and longing of unrequited love. Its simple and elegant melody, combined with its mournful lyrics, make it a timeless classic of the Baroque era.

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