Composer

:

Lennox Berkeley

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1937

Average_duration

:

5:32

Lennox Berkeley's 'Lay your sleeping head my love, Op. 14/2b' is a beautiful and hauntingly romantic piece of music. It was composed in 1949 and premiered in the same year by the tenor Peter Pears and the pianist Benjamin Britten. The piece is part of a larger song cycle called 'Five Poems by W.H. Auden', which was commissioned by Pears and Britten. The piece is divided into two movements, with the first movement being a slow and melancholic introduction. The piano sets the mood with a gentle and mournful melody, while the tenor sings the opening lines of the poem. The second movement is more lively and upbeat, with the piano taking on a more prominent role. The tenor's voice soars over the piano, expressing the joy and passion of the poem's message. The piece is characterized by its beautiful and lyrical melodies, which are perfectly suited to the romantic and emotional nature of the poem. The piano accompaniment is delicate and understated, allowing the tenor's voice to take center stage. The piece is also notable for its use of dissonance, which adds a sense of tension and drama to the music. Overall, 'Lay your sleeping head my love, Op. 14/2b' is a stunning piece of music that perfectly captures the beauty and emotion of W.H. Auden's poem. Its haunting melodies and delicate piano accompaniment make it a favorite among both classical music lovers and fans of romantic poetry.

More....