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King David

by Matthew Todd, Tenor

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about

Music often gives comfort in time of sorrow; That's what 'King David' is about. And also, about the encounter with nature. When neither his friends' company nor the harps playing for him succeeded in easing his sadness, quite odd because there was no reason for it, the nightingale’s song during a lonely walk does the job. The nightingale, unaware of the king, sings its grief, and the more it sings, the more it soothes his pain. We know that only sad music can alleviate sadness, don't we?

Howells' music tells as much as De la Mare's words. The sadness of the king, at the first stanza; the hundred harps that play at the second one; the phrase "He rose" becomes a warning of something important is about to happen; the nightingale we hear immediately after, even before the king hears it; the sadness of the bird and the king’s peace of heart. The song is full of details, but even if we don't get them in a first listening, the atmosphere, the sensitivity and the empathy with the king created become enough to stop the time.

(from Liederabend.cat )

www.matthew-todd.co.uk

lyrics

King David was a sorrowful man:
No cause for his sorrow had he;
And he called for the music of a hundred harps,
To ease his melancholy.

They played till they all fell silent:
Played and play sweet did they;
But the sorrow that haunted the heart of King David
They could not charm away.

He rose; and in his garden
Walked by the moon alone,
A nightingale hidden in a cypress tree,
Jargoned on and on.

King David lifted his sad eyes
Into the dark-boughed tree --
"Tell me, thou little bird that singest,
Who taught my grief to thee?"

But the bird in no-wise heeded;
And the king in the cool of the moon
Hearkened to the nightingale's sorrowfulness,
Till all his own was gone.

credits

released May 21, 2020

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Matthew Todd, Tenor Glasgow, UK

Matthew Todd is a Scottish classical tenor, trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has a passion for stories especially where there is a deep human element, hence his love of Art Song. Matthew is also a committed Community Musician, Choral Director, teacher and composer. More info at www.matthew-todd.co.uk ... more

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