"On Wenlock Edge"

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 13, 9 October 1931, Page 6

"On Wenlock Edge"

A Song Cycle from 2YA

Nearly a quarter of a century ago, A. E. Housman wrote "A Shropshire Lad," a collection of 63 poems, in which the truly lyrical qualities of the English

janguage are retiected as they have seldom been in our time, The latent

musical possibilities in these poems have only within the last few

years been realised by our composers. By far the most successful of the settings of these poems is a selection of six which Vaughan; Williams has set to music for ten« or voice and ac~ companiment of string quartet and, pianoforte. The poems -_ selected are j=

i. "On Wenlock Edge." 2. "From Far from Eve and Morning." 3. "Is my Team Ploughing?" 4. "Oh! When I was in Love with 5 6 you. "Bredon Hill," . "Clun." These songs have been hailed by English critics as artistic achievements of glorious words wedded to glorious music. Although to "On Wenlock Edge" the composer has given every attention to external shape and anecdote, he has proceeded far . beyond in the direction of realising the inner qualities of the poems. There are certain characteristics in these poems emphasised in the

setting to music of a certain ingenuousness that is in harmony with our national character, and a_ melancholy, devoid of weakness, such as one can associate with a climate like FEneland which.

though conducive to depression, has helped to mould a robust race by developing its powers of resist-

ance. This is where Vaughan Williams has been most successful-

the musical sentiment of "On Wenlock Edge" is as sincere and unsophisticated as the poems themselves. One of the finest of the cycle is "‘Bredon Hill," with its, persistent imitation of bells in the accompaniment. Instead of realistic chiming

we have a background of the blurred sonority of bells that remains unobtrusive for the greater. part of the song, and a vocal line which is not only purely lyrical, but derives great poignancy from its very simplicity. A more detailed account of the remaining songs would be out of place here, but each is very beautiful. It is not expected that the cycle will appeal to- all music lovers, but it is hoped that the foregoing remarks will help listeners to have a clearer idea as to the purport. of the songs.