A Garland of Shakespearean & Old Fashioned Lyrics, Op. 21

• Composer: Hubert Parry
• Period: Romantic (1820-1869)

Review

Ballads were very popular in Victorian England, and Parry's cycle of Art Songs published in 1874 by Lamborn Cock under the title A Garland of Shakespearean and Other Old-Fashioned Songs reflects this trend in society. English musicians had just begun discovering the value of the history of music in their country and many works were written imitating old forms juxtaposed with a modern harmonic language. Parry referred to the style as "in old style" and was conscious of imitating Baroque characteristics when composing the six songs in this cycle. Three of the songs, "Love's Perjuries," "A Spring Song," and "A Sea Dirge" are based on works by Shakespeare. The other four works are either anonymous, "A Contrast," or by S. Daniel, " Concerning Love," or Skelton, "Merry Margaret." The songs use techniques popular in the theater music of the day written by John Sullivan and Edward German. Parry completed this delightful, somewhat comical cycle in June of 1873. ~ Bonnie Fleming, Rovi

Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Pale Hands I Loved	1994

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