Composer

:

Gerald Finzi

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

6:29

'Let us garlands bring, Op. 18: No. 3, Fear No. more the heat o' the sun' is a song composed by Gerald Finzi in 1942. It was premiered in 1943 and is part of a song cycle consisting of five Shakespearean texts set to music. The song cycle was dedicated to Ralph Vaughan Williams, who was a mentor to Finzi. 'Fear No more the heat o' the sun' is the third movement of the song cycle and is based on a text from Shakespeare's play 'Cymbeline'. The text speaks of the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The music is set in a slow and mournful tempo, with a simple and repetitive melody that emphasizes the melancholic mood of the text. The song begins with a solo piano introduction that sets the mood for the piece. The vocal line enters with the first line of the text, "Fear no more the heat o' the sun", and is sung in a soft and gentle manner. The melody is simple and repetitive, with a descending line that emphasizes the sadness of the text. The piano accompaniment is sparse and delicate, with occasional chords that provide a sense of harmony and support for the vocal line. The use of dissonance in the piano part adds to the melancholic mood of the piece. As the song progresses, the vocal line becomes more expressive, with a wider range of dynamics and a more varied melody. The text speaks of the inevitability of death, but also of the peace that comes with it. The music reflects this sentiment, with a sense of resignation and acceptance in the final lines of the text. 'Fear No more the heat o' the sun' is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the essence of Shakespeare's text. Finzi's music is simple and understated, but deeply expressive, and perfectly complements the text. It is a testament to Finzi's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the emotional depth of a text through music.

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