…too bitter sweet (Op.27)

1998-2009, 16 minutes

These six songs for soprano and piano are written to poems by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894).

The title is taken from a line in the fourth poem, Echo, a stanza of which is reprised at the end of the song cycle. It also refers to the title of the third song, Bitter for sweet.

In both her secular and religious poetry, Rossetti exploits pictorial and natural imagery and her outpourings to an unnamed lover suggest a subtle ambiguity.

While overtly melancholic and nostalgic, the songs have their moments of joy and exuberance, with the piano accompaniment acting as a true equal to the voice.

  1. Song
  2. An end
  3. Bitter for sweet
  4. Echo
  5. Lady Montrevor
  6. Song

…too bitter sweet was written for and dedicated to Caroline Trutz.

Listen

You can listen to …too bitter sweet on scoreexchange.com.