THREE SUSSEX SONGS op.164 (May 1973)

A song-cycle for mezzo soprano and piano
Commissioned by: Helen Watts
Instrumentation: voice and piano
[Key to Abbreviations]
Note on Lyrics: poems by Judith Garrett
Duration: 13 mins
First Performance: Helen Watts and the composer in a charity concert in Cuckfield Church, October 5th 1973.
Sheet Music Available
Piano / Vocal score for sale
Arranged at higher pitch See op.542
Recordings Available
On demand

Movements

  • 1: This is the delicate time of the year
  • 2: I wait through the daylight hours
  • 3: The dying fall of summer's music

Notes

Howard moved to Highbridge Mill near Cuckfield in Mid-Sussex in 1971. The violin-maker Gilbert Garrett lived in the village and his wife Judith wrote poetry, some of which Howard set in these songs. In 1973 the internationally-famous mezzo-soprano Helen Watts had moved to the cottage next to Highbridge Mill and she encouraged him to write the song-cycle for her to perform.

A re-arrangement was made for Patricia Rozario in a higher key November 2003

Performances

5th October 1973 Helen Watts and the composer, Holy Trinity, Cuckfield, Sussex

Related Works


'Three Sussex Songs' op.542 (November 2003) Listen to this Work
A re-arrangement of the song-cycle in a higher key for soprano and piano

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