The Winds

song for voice and piano

General Information – Performing Forces – Manuscript – Publication – Recordings – Text

General Information:

Composition:
1918

First Performances:
        Probable first performance:
Sunday, 11 December 1921. The home of Lady Glenconner, 34 Queen Anne's Gate, London. Helen Rootham soprano.
        First documented performance:
Wednesday, 30 October 1929. Aeolian Hall, London. Odette de Foras soprano, Gordon Bryan piano. A Gordon Bryan Chamber Concert.

Duration:
Under 2 minutes

Text:
A. C. Swinburne (1837–1909)
Click here for complete text.

Tempo:
Fast

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C6

Performing Forces:

High voice (soprano or tenor)

Piano

Manuscript:

There is no known surviving manuscript.

Publication:

J. Curwen & Sons, Ltd.. Vocal score, # CE 2217, 1921. Discontinued.

Oxford University Press. Included in Two Early Songs, 1985, 019 3458608 (discontinued). Included in William Walton: A Song Album, 1991, 019 3437597. Also included in Four Early Songs, 2002, 019 3458683.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: A Song Album]
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Four Early Songs]

Recordings:

Solo Voice Pianist Year Compact Disc Timing
Yvonne Kenny soprano Malcolm Martineau 1992 Etcetera KC 1140 1'26"
John Mark Ainsley tenor Hamish Milne 1993 Chandos CHAN 9292 1'24"
Felicity Lott soprano Graham Johnson 1996/7 Collins 14932
Naxos 8.557112		 1'37"

 

Text:

O weary fa' the east wind,
And weary fa' the west:
And gin I were under the wan waves wide
I wot weel wad I rest.

O weary fa' the north wind,
And weary fa' the south:
The sea went ower my good lord's head
Or ever he kissed my mouth.

Weary fa' the windward rocks,
And weary fa' the lee:
They might hae sunken seven score ships,
And let my love's gang free.

And weary fa' ye, mariners a',
And weary fa' the sea:
It might hae taken an hundred men,
And let my ae love be.

— A. C. Swinburne (1837–1909)

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Solo Vocal Music