The Bluebird (414.01)

The Bluebird (414.01) (Stanford was one of the major influences in British musical life from the 1880s until after the First World War through his Professorship at Cambridge University and his composition classes at the Royal College of Music. He was himself a prolific composer though apart from a handful of pieces, this song in particular, only his Anglican Church music is regularly heard today. Although his Irish background and his sensitivity to the setting of English texts help to enliven his style, his music was in general, weighted down by the academic traditions that he taught so demandingly. The Bluebird, with the words by Mary, E. Coleridge, shows none of this stiffness, however; it moves freely through some lovely harmonies in a simple chorale style, coloured by the solo soprano, perhaps representing the soaring bluebird casting it’s reflection for one moment on the stillness of the lake. The lake lay blue below the hill, O’er it, as I looked, there flew Across the waters, cold an still, A bird whose wings were palest blue. The sky above was blue at last, The sky beneath me blue in blue A moment, ere the bird has passed, It caught his image as he flew. Performance notes: The solo trumpet should be placed at a distance, preferably above the ensemble, off-stage or in a balcony. Make sure, though, that the solo line is always clearly audible and that logistical problems do not create problems of ensemble. If this is a difficulty, play on stage but separated from the main ensemble group and try to move off-stage for the last note only. The ensemble chorale must be well balanced and perfectly in tune. Play quietly but not at the expense of a sustained resonance. The 2nd verse can be warmer in sound but do not allow the climax to be too big and out of context with the overall tranquillo feel of the piece.)