Composer

:

Ivor Gurney

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:43

Ivor Gurney's "I will go with my father a-ploughing" is a song cycle composed in 1914. The premiere of the piece was in 1920, performed by the tenor John Goss and the pianist Gerald Moore. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by the English poet and playwright, Edward Thomas. The first movement, "I will go with my father a-ploughing," is a lively and rhythmic setting of Thomas's poem of the same name. The music captures the energy and excitement of a young boy accompanying his father to work in the fields. The piano accompaniment is lively and syncopated, while the vocal line is full of playful leaps and runs. The second movement, "The fields are full," is a more contemplative setting of Thomas's poem about the changing seasons. The music is more subdued, with a gentle piano accompaniment and a vocal line that is more lyrical and expressive. The third movement, "Look not in my eyes," is a haunting setting of Thomas's poem about the pain of unrequited love. The music is slow and mournful, with a simple piano accompaniment that underscores the emotional intensity of the vocal line. The fourth movement, "In Flanders," is a powerful setting of Thomas's poem about the horrors of war. The music is dark and brooding, with a driving piano accompaniment that evokes the chaos and violence of the battlefield. The vocal line is full of anguish and despair, as the narrator laments the loss of his comrades and the destruction of the landscape. The final movement, "The far country," is a poignant setting of Thomas's poem about the longing for a distant and unattainable place. The music is wistful and nostalgic, with a gentle piano accompaniment that evokes the beauty and mystery of the unknown land. The vocal line is full of longing and yearning, as the narrator dreams of a place beyond the reach of mortal life. Overall, "I will go with my father a-ploughing" is a powerful and evocative song cycle that captures the beauty and complexity of Edward Thomas's poetry. Ivor Gurney's music is full of emotion and nuance, and his settings of Thomas's poems are a testament to the enduring power of art to move and inspire us.

More....