Fernhill (dialogue for voice and piano)
 

Fernhill is a setting of Dylan Thomas's poem of the same name. The poem tells of a happy childhood "among the trees and leaves". The music is a dialogue between the piano and the singer. The piano part is both accompaniment and also solo (requiring virtuoso playing). After an immediate statement of a theme tune, a dramatic middle section leads to a "big tune", which expands to a recapitulation of the theme tune, finishing in a lengthy fade. Compass is C4 to A5 and it is about 11 mins. in duration.

 

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extract from score