Composer

:

Ivor Gurney

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Jan 1918

Average_duration

:

2:52

On Wenlock Edge is a song cycle composed by Ivor Gurney in 1917. The piece is based on six poems from A.E. Housman's collection A Shropshire Lad. The premiere of the piece was on October 29, 1917, at the Aeolian Hall in London, with tenor John Coates and pianist Gerald Moore. The song cycle consists of six movements, each based on a different poem. The first movement, "On Wenlock Edge," sets the tone for the piece with its haunting melody and melancholic lyrics. The second movement, "From Far, From Eve and Morning," is more upbeat and features a lively piano accompaniment. The third movement, "Is My Team Ploughing," is a dialogue between a dead soldier and his living friend, with the piano taking on the role of the living friend. The fourth movement, "Oh, When I Was in Love with You," is a nostalgic reflection on lost love. The fifth movement, "Bredon Hill," is a somber reflection on the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The final movement, "Clun," is a celebration of the beauty of the countryside and the joys of rural life. The characteristics of On Wenlock Edge are its use of modal harmonies, folk-like melodies, and a sense of nostalgia and longing. Gurney's use of dissonance and chromaticism adds to the haunting quality of the piece. The piano accompaniment is often complex and virtuosic, adding to the emotional depth of the music. Overall, On Wenlock Edge is a powerful and moving song cycle that captures the essence of Housman's poetry and showcases Gurney's skill as a composer. Its themes of love, loss, and the passage of time are universal and continue to resonate with audiences today.

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