The Echo Elf Answers
A Song for Mezzo-Soprano and Guitar
Line-up, style and pricing information
Line-up
Mezzo-soprano, guitar
Type
Duration
3'00 minutes
Price
$3.60
A darkly sweet art song for mezzo-soprano and guitar, setting the Thomas Hardy poem, and appealing to my folklore-loving self! It has a looping guitar ending inspired by the likes of Bert Jansch or Davy Graham.
The Echo Elf Answers
How much shall I love her?
For life, or not long?
“Not long.”
Alas! When forget her?
In years, or by June?
“By June.”
And whom woo I after?
No one, or a throng?
“A throng.”
Of these shall I wed one
Long hence, or quite soon?
“Quite soon.”
And which will my bride be?
The right or the wrong?
“The wrong.”
And my remedy – what kind?
Wealth-wove, or earth-hewn?
“Earth-hewn.”
Thomas Hardy
The Echo Elf Answers was commissioned by Arthur Keegan-Bole
and written for Lotte Betts-Dean and James Girling. It was premiered at Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton on May 27th, 2022, and has been recorded as part of 'Hardy Songs' (Delphian Records, 2024)
Further information
Publisher
Self--published
Year
2022
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