Poet: Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
Source: Winter Words
Date of Composition: 1953 (Mar. – Sep.)
Publication: Boosey & Hawkes, 1953
Voice Difficulty Level: Moderately Difficult
Subject: An examination of one’s life through nature.
Range: D4 – Ab5
Tessitura: G4 – D5
Tempo: Quick and impetuous; 3/4
Duration: 02:08
Vocal Characteristics: Consistently shifting chromatic accidentals; leaps to high range and then quickly descends; hemiola feel;
Piano Difficulty Level: Difficult
Accompaniment Characteristics: Recurring duple against triple alternating hand flourishes intersperced with chordal accompaniment
Additional Comments: Numerical tempo indication is not in the manuscript