Composer

:

Michael Tippett

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Arrangement: Folk Song

Compose Date

:

1956

Average_duration

:

13:05

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Michael Tippett's 'Songs (4) from the British Isles' is a song cycle composed in 1958. The premiere of the work was given by the tenor Peter Pears and the pianist Benjamin Britten at the Aldeburgh Festival in June 1958. The cycle consists of four songs, each based on a traditional folk tune from the British Isles. The first song, 'The Salley Gardens', is a setting of an Irish folk tune. The melody is simple and lyrical, and Tippett's harmonies are delicate and understated. The song is marked by a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the narrator reflects on lost love. The second song, 'The Plough Boy', is a lively and energetic setting of an English folk tune. The melody is jaunty and upbeat, and Tippett's harmonies are bright and cheerful. The song celebrates the joys of rural life and the hard work of the ploughman. The third song, 'I Know My Love', is a setting of an Irish folk tune. The melody is playful and flirtatious, and Tippett's harmonies are light and airy. The song tells the story of a young woman who is pursued by a persistent suitor. The final song, 'The Miller of Dee', is a setting of an English folk tune. The melody is stately and dignified, and Tippett's harmonies are rich and full. The song tells the story of a miller who is content with his simple life, despite the envy of his wealthier neighbors. Overall, 'Songs (4) from the British Isles' is a charming and accessible work that showcases Tippett's skill as a composer of vocal music. The cycle is notable for its use of traditional folk tunes, which Tippett transforms into art songs that are both sophisticated and approachable.

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