Invocations for soprano and piano William Alwyn

Poems by Michael Armstrong

Invocations, for soprano and piano, was completed
on 12th December 1977. The work was written for and
is dedicated to Jill Gomez as a gift for her insightful
reading and inspired singing of the title rôle in Alwyn's
opera, Miss Julie. BBC Radio 3 relayed this in a BBC
Studio performance on 16th July 1977, which was then
followed by a recording that appeared on the Lyrita
label. Alwyn remarks: In this cycle the poet invokes
both the spirit of love and the spirit of nature. The first
two songs, Through the Centuries and Holding the
Night are both love songs. The third, Separation is the
expression of the poet's frustration. The music reflects
the words in the form of a nocturne. The fourth,
Drought is a nature poem a memory of the long
summer drought of 1976. The fifth song, by contrast
depicts musically the patter of rain. The sixth song,
Invocation to the Queen of Moonlight is again a
nocturne, a sustained melody with a gently pulsing
accompaniment and tells of the moon's Drift on the
breast of the sea,' encrusting the dim landscape with
marble,' The song cycle ends in a joyful mood Our
Magic Horse a love song in which the poet exclaims:
Where can we find our magic horse to take our journey
among the stars' The galloping rhythm of the piano
brings the cycle to a brilliant close.