repertoire fridays: Edward Benjamin Britten "At Day‑Close in November" (1953)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzQ0aSVV6j8&w=640&h=480]
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Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM, CH (1913 – 1976)  “At Day‑Close in November” op. 52 no. 1 from Winter Words (1953)

Performed by English tenor Sir Peter Neville Luard Pears CBE (1910-1986) accompanied by the composer.

Text is from The Lied, Art Song, and Choral Texts Archive. Please take a moment to financially support their mission.

At Day‑Close in November

The ten hours' light is abating,
And a late bird wings across,
Where the pines, like waltzers waiting,
Give their black heads a toss.

Beech leaves, that yellow the noon-time,
Float past like specks in the eye;
I set every tree in my June time,
And now they obscure the sky.

And the children who ramble through here
Conceive that there never has been
A time when no tall trees grew here,
That none will in time be seen.

Since we are celebrating Britten’s centenary during the year 2013, I thought it would be a fine way to embark on the month of November with this movement from Winter Words. I usually like to share video clips in which one can actually view the singer performing live but I simply could not choose any other singer than Peter Pears for today’s post. The other three movements from Winter Words: “Midnight on the Great Western” (or The Journeying Boy), “Wagtail and Baby” (A Satire), and  “The little old Table” are also included in the recording. So, take a 10 minutes and 13 seconds out of your Friday to enjoy the whole thing. Here’s to a great and meaningful November!