Poet: Po Chü-i (772-846)
Source: Songs from the Chinese
Date of Composition: 1957 (Autumn)
Publication: Songs from the Chinese, Boosey & Hawkes 1959
Voice Difficulty Level: Moderately Difficult
Subject: The reality of aging.
Range: Eb4 – Gb5
Tessitura: G4 – C5
Tempo: Very slow and tired; 4/4
Duration: 01:13
Vocal Characteristics: Quartal based melody; conversation with the guitar; emphasis of words with repeated notes; chromatic ascension on final two notes
Guitar Difficulty Level:
Accompaniment Characteristics:
Additional Comments: Manuscript does not include numerical marking of tempo; the breath indication in mm. 12 is Britten’s and appears in the manuscript