Poet: William Soutar (1898-1943)
Source: Who Are These Children?
Date of Composition: 1969 (Spring-Summer)
Publication: Faber Music, 1972
Voice Difficulty Level: Moderately Difficult
Subject: A mischievous boy mocks the gentry. (Scottish dialect)
Range: D4 – Gb5
Tessitura: F#4 – F5
Tempo: Fast; 4/4 – 2/4
Duration: 00:38
Vocal Characteristics: Wordy, jumpy melody; a few high-lying phrases; sustained F5 with diminuendo; entrances can be a challenge
Piano Difficulty Level: Difficult
Accompaniment Characteristics: Contrary motion quarter notes; Grace note, accented down beats at the end of every phrase; alternating octave eighth notes between hands;
Additional Comments: Mixed meter with noted changes; Britten Thematic Catalog http://www.brittenproject.org/works/BTC1144