Ann Brashear

Publication Date

1986

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Blickhan, Tim

Degree Name

M. Mus. (Master of Music)

Legacy Department

Department of Music

LCSH

Britten; Benjamin; 1913-1976. Winter words

Abstract

Winter Words Op. 52, composed in 1953, is one of several song cycles by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). The cycle, scored for high voice (tenor or soprano) and piano, consists of eight songs with texts by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928). Very few published works exist which address this work; it is one of Britten's least publicized cycles. This analysis focuses upon two dimensions of the song cycle: 1) the compatible relationship between the philosophies and British lifestyles of the two men and how these similarities provide human and historical interest within the cycle and 2) the musical language Britten uses to organize the eight songs into a coherent entity. The cyclic characteristics of the work are discussed in Chapter One. Each of the remaining chapters is devoted to the analysis of a single song divided into the following sections: Literary Summary, Formal Structure and Tonality, Melodic and Vocal Characteristics, Accompanimental Characteristics, Text Painting and Literary Symbolism, and Summary.

Comments

Bibliography: leaf [66].

Extent

vi, 65, [1] pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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