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- Ian Venables
At Midnight, Op. 28/2 (1997)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
- Piano
- Baritone; Piano
- High voice
- 4 min
- Edna St Vincent Millay
Programme Note
Two Songs Op 28
i. Flying Crooked
ii. At Midnight
The two songs opus 28 are examples of Ian Venables' ultra-refined sensibility, contrasting the harmonic subtleties and ambiguities of his setting of Robert Graves' poem 'Flying Crooked' with the dream-like atmosphere of one of Edna St.Vincent Millay's many sonnets.
The American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay won the Pultizer Prize in 1923 for her third volume of poety, 'The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems'. This collection exhibits her mature style, and shows a mastery of her use of traditional verse form; in particular the sonnet.
Although her untitled poem from this volume, given the title 'At Midnight' by the composer, is an early work, it is a poignant description of one woman's reminiscences on past loves. Its timeless, dream-like quality is created by an insistent rocking figure and a rich and sensuous harmonic language which heighten Millay's emotionally charged writing. 'At Midnight' was written in America after Venables was given the poem by Joanne Azarnoff at the end of a concert of his music in San Francisco.
i. Flying Crooked
ii. At Midnight
The two songs opus 28 are examples of Ian Venables' ultra-refined sensibility, contrasting the harmonic subtleties and ambiguities of his setting of Robert Graves' poem 'Flying Crooked' with the dream-like atmosphere of one of Edna St.Vincent Millay's many sonnets.
The American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay won the Pultizer Prize in 1923 for her third volume of poety, 'The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems'. This collection exhibits her mature style, and shows a mastery of her use of traditional verse form; in particular the sonnet.
Although her untitled poem from this volume, given the title 'At Midnight' by the composer, is an early work, it is a poignant description of one woman's reminiscences on past loves. Its timeless, dream-like quality is created by an insistent rocking figure and a rich and sensuous harmonic language which heighten Millay's emotionally charged writing. 'At Midnight' was written in America after Venables was given the poem by Joanne Azarnoff at the end of a concert of his music in San Francisco.
Media
2 Songs, Op. 28: No. 2. At Midnight
