Composer

:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1923

Average_duration

:

10:04

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Ralph Vaughan Williams' "English Folk Song Suite" is a three-movement orchestral work that premiered on June 4, 1924, at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. The suite is a tribute to the composer's love for English folk music, which he collected and arranged throughout his life. The first movement, "March: Seventeen Come Sunday," is a lively and energetic piece that features a prominent melody played by the brass section. The melody is based on the folk song "Seventeen Come Sunday," which tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a girl but is rejected by her father. The second movement, "Intermezzo: My Bonny Boy," is a slower and more contemplative piece that features a haunting melody played by the strings. The melody is based on the folk song "My Bonny Boy," which tells the story of a mother mourning the loss of her son who has gone off to war. The third movement, "March: Folk Songs from Somerset," is a lively and upbeat piece that features a medley of three folk songs from the county of Somerset. The first song, "Blow Away the Morning Dew," is a lively dance tune. The second song, "High Germany," is a ballad about a soldier who falls in love with a woman but is forced to leave her to go to war. The third song, "The Trees They Do Grow High," is a ballad about a young man who falls in love with an older woman. Overall, the "English Folk Song Suite" is a charming and nostalgic tribute to the rich tradition of English folk music. Vaughan Williams' arrangements of these timeless melodies showcase his skill as a composer and his deep love for the music of his homeland.

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