Poet: Wystan Hugh Auden (1907-1973)
Source: On This Island
Date of Composition: 1937 (May 5)
Publication: Boosey & Hawkes, 1938
Voice Difficulty Level: Moderately Difficult
Subject: A scene of evening.
Range: C4 – G#5
Tessitura: G#4 – C#5
Tempo: Andante piacevole; 6/4
Duration: 03:52
Vocal Characteristics: Long, legato phrases in ascending outlined arpeggios; natural arsis and thesis; semi-strophic; penultimate phrase includes chromatic approach from G5 – G#5
Piano Difficulty Level: Moderate
Accompaniment Characteristics: Chordal; chromatic
Additional Comments: ms. 5, left hand F#, is G# in manuscript; ms. 16, manuscript has the pp one beat later, and the ten. is not indicated; these are both true for vs. 2 as well; ms. 53, the manuscript does not have the indication (parlante); ms. 54, the accent on the word “force” is not indicated in the manuscript; Britten Thematic Catalog http://www.brittenproject.org/works/BTC836