Composing with English folk song: portfolio of compositions and accompanying commentary

Abstract

Western classical composers have a history of engagement with folk song, and this is something
that has been particularly true of English composers and English folk song over approximately the
last one hundred and twenty years since the so-called English folk song revival. This research
project is primarily an investigation into the range of ways that English composers throughout this
period have engaged with English folk song in their writing, with the accompanying aim of using
this knowledge to write music within this particular tradition of repertoire myself.
Western classical composers have a history of engagement with folk song, and this is something that has been particularly true of English composers and English folk song over approximately the last one hundred and twenty years since the so-called English folk song revival. This research project is primarily an investigation into the range of ways that English composers throughout this period have engaged with English folk song in their writing, with the accompanying aim of using this knowledge to write music within this particular tradition of repertoire myself. Three main areas of enquiry have been undertaken. Firstly, researching original English folk song sources and thereby gaining a detailed understanding of their musical structure and character so as to effectively utilize them for the composition purposes. Secondly, exploring compositional methodologies and strategies for interacting with extant musical materials generally and folk song sources specifically. Thirdly, studying a wide range of related compositional precedents in the works of other composers, including those from other countries in order to provide the broadest possible perspective. Out of these investigations a portfolio of new compositions has been written, including an extended six movement piano cycle which surveys in a contemporary idiom the subject of compositional engagement with English folk song from a range of different perspectives, aesthetics and critical interactions.

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