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Introduction
To commemorate
the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Blake
(1757-1827) I have set selected poems from two collections,
Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. Unlike
the written form, in this work the poems are interwoven,
but with a different scoring and style so that they
can be distinguished - the Songs of Innocence are
set for SATB; the Songs of Experience are for two
soloists and various choir combinations. The work
is divided into three sections, each of which begins
with a spoken poem. The first, to be read by a young
girl, initiates a set that is overwhelmingly 'innocent'.
The second section, to be opened by a young man, contains
a group which is evenly divided between 'Innocence'
and 'Experience'. The third section, which should
begin with a rich, older-sounding male voice, contains
mainly poems from Songs of Experience.
I have however
had a somewhat flexible form of presentation in mind
with this work. In its entirety it forms one medium
length piece (my preferred option), the spoken texts
providing their own divisions and points of rest,
the soloists adding contrast at other points. However,
within some concert programmes it may lend itself
to three items spread within a full programme, the
final piece within each section giving some closure
to the episodes. For less experienced choirs without
access to soloists, the Songs of Innocence can be
extracted to stand alone.
William
Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience are from
his earlier lyric poems. Etched during the French
Revolution of 1789, Songs of Innocence express in
their deceptively simple character the hopes and fears
of children and their development into adulthood.
The Songs of Experience (written when England was
at war with the French in 1794) via many parallels
and contrasts, reflect, deepen, and destroy what is
good in 'Innocence'. The hopeful vision is darkened,
the rebellious and heretical intensified, and naturally
this is reflected in the musical setting.
Michael
Stimpson
Movements
I
1. The Lamb (Spoken) (Innocence)
2. Introduction (Innocence)
3. Introduction (Experience)
4. The Shepherd (Innocence)
5. The Little Boy Lost (Innocence)
6. The Little Boy Found (Innocence)
II
7. London (Spoken) (Experience)
8. A Poison Tree (Experience)
9. Laughing Song (Innocence)
10. The Tyger (Experience)
11. Nurse's Song (Innocence)
III
12. Earth's Answer (Spoken) (Experience)
13. The Human Abstract (Experience)
14. The Voice of the Ancient Bard (Experience)
15. A Divine Image (Experience)
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