Silver (2024)

Vocal

9 Mar

Three settings of Walter De La Mare
1. Full Moon
2. Why?
3. Silver

Baritone (or Tenor) and Piano

Duration:
8′

First Performance:
25 May 2024
Robert Rice, Will Vann, Acorn Centre, Inverurie, UK

First Performance ‘Full Moon’:
03 February 2024
Robert Rice, Will Vann, Unitarian Church, St Savioursgate, York, UK

Score

Download (PDF)

Programme note

Silver is an attempt to write simple, melodic songs that are direct and emotive, but stripped of any unnecessary embellishments or ornaments. The three songs are all poems from Walter De La Mare (1873-1956), one of my favourite poets as a composer and are a return to his work for me after setting it earlier with Two De La Mare Songs (2012) and The Song of Shadows (2016). All three songs relate to moonlight, and all include the word ‘silver’ that gives the set its title. Despite the intended simplicity and directness, there is a cloying melancholy that pervades the songs – for an idiomatic performance, the singer can ‘lean into’ this emotion for full effect.

PAC

BaritonePiano

Tobias Patrick Wolf

Tobias is an award-winning German conductor and composer based in North East Scotland. He is Music Director of the renowned King’s Studio Orchestra (Scotland), the Braeside Singers (Aberdeen) and Principal Guest Conductor of the German Winds. Tobias is PhD researcher at the University of Aberdeen, exploring hybrid composition and performance practice. Sought after as guest conductor for ensembles around the globe, he brings new music to life — for audiences in the concert hall, on radio and television, and across multi-platform online streaming services.

https://www.tpwolf.com