Songs of Love and Heroism

For Baritone & Piano  

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Duration: c.7'

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I - The Falling Leaves 

II - Sir Galahad 

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Please note: The movements in this work can be performed as a song cycle, or individually.  

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Programme Note:

Songs of Love and Heroism explores topics of separation, love and knightly heroics through setting two texts by Y.B. Yeats and Lord Alfred Tennyson. These contrasting texts have complementing themes, united by aspects of love; whether that be a romantic yearning, or courtly love. The contemplative first movement, entitled ‘The Falling Leaves’, uses Yeats’ pastorale imagery of autumn to convey a separation between lovers. The sprightly second movement depicts Sir Galahad, a knight of King Arthurs round-table said to have been purist of heart who obtained the holy grail. In this brisk and dramatic movement, I set an extract of Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem of Sir Galahad, where this movement is full of musical excitement and drama through a rhythmic perpetuum in the piano accompaniment. The cycle closes with distant murmurings in the piano, where the rhythmical excitement shatters into musical fragments below the contemplative singer.

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Many thanks to Cheltenham Music Festival for commissioning this work for the 2024 opening festival. Premiered by Roderick Williams and Roger Vignoles as part of the Cheltenham and Buxton International Festival in 2024. 

Recording: