context

Question 1

when was On Wenlock Edge written?

Answer 1

1909

Question 2

how did he break away from German romantic style?

Answer 2

influenced by:
English folk song- notated folk songs from the English countryside, the modality of it influencedhis style
English choral tradition- notably Tudor Church music of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd
French impressionism- he studied with Ravel in Paris, rhythms, harmony and sonority are reminiscent of Debussy

Question 3

what is the piece based on?

Answer 3

A Shropshire Lad by A. E. Housman, written in 1896, the poems describe rural life and convey a nostalgic sense of lost innocence

Question 4

what is a song cycle?

Answer 4

a collection of songs that are all linked together by a central theme

Question 5

what is unusual about the instrumentation?

Answer 5

in the 19th century piano quintet was used by composers such as Brahms and Schumann, the combination of solo voice and piano quintet is rare