Poet: John Donne (c.1572-1631)
Source: The Holy Sonnets of John Donne
Date of Composition: 1945 (Aug. 14)
Publication: Boosey & Hawkes, 1946
Voice Difficulty Level: Difficult
Subject: If this is the end, give me the mind of Christ.
Range: D4 – Bb5
Tessitura: Gb4 – E5
Tempo: Alla marcia moderato; 4/4
Duration: 02:54
Vocal Characteristics: Independent vocal line; short, 2-3 ms. phrases; chromatic, melismatic passage; otherwise, syllabic setting of text
Piano Difficulty Level: Difficult
Accompaniment Characteristics: Parallel lines between hands at times; running sextuplet figures in both hands; left hand punctuates florid right hand lines with stacatto chords
Additional Comments: Numerical tempo indication is not in the manuscript; manuscript indicates the duration as 2:40