FM219

Songs Without the Words

Volume 1

for solo piano

Peter Warlock

arr. John Mitchell

£11.50

This product has a total of 4 review excerpts; reload the page to see other quotations at random or take a look at all the reviews of this publication.

I will enjoy returning to these volumes and will keep them in my music case.
Jonathan Carne, Peter Warlock Society News (#206 Spring 2020 42–3)
The editions are attractively presented […] The layout of each piece is very clear both in print quality and the spacing between staves. […] The arrangements have been devised carefully in order to make them approachable for competent pianists.
Jonathan Carne, Peter Warlock Society News (#206 Spring 2020 42–3)

Peter Warlock (1894–1930) is rightly famed for his 120 or so solo songs. They vary enormously in range, from the uproariously extrovert drinking songs, via those on pleasingly charming pastoral themes, and through tender love songs to the hauntingly sad and desolating songs of The Curlew. Another feature they share is that they are more often than not quite melodically distinguished and attractive.

The cue for arranging the nine songs of this volume as piano pieces came in the form of a piano transcription that Alec Rowley had made many years ago of Warlock’s song Milkmaids. Including the latter in a recent concert, it struck John Mitchell that a similar treatment might be extended to some of the other songs in Warlock’s output. The arrangements here may appeal especially to those pianists who greatly enjoy accompanying these songs, but may not always have a singer on hand to contribute the vocal line (the latter now being incorporated into the piano texture).

ALSO AVAILABLE: Volume 2.

Sample pages

FM219-1 FM219-2 FM219-3 FM219-4 FM219-5 FM219-6 FM219-7 FM219-8 FM219-9

(Click to enlarge)

  Composer Title Grade Forces Total duration
Peter Warlock
arr. John Mitchell
Songs Without the Words
Volume 1
for solo piano
5 to 8Piano13 mins
# Composer Movement Forces Duration
1Peter Warlock
arr. John Mitchell
The BachelorPiano¾ minute
2Late Summer2 mins
3The Night2 mins
4Adam lay ybounden1 minute
5The Lover Mourns for the Loss of Love1¼ mins
6Sweet Content1½ mins
7A Sad Song1½ mins
8Lullaby1½ mins
9Captain Stratton’s Fancy1½ mins
Recorded performance

Performed by the arranger: John Mitchell, Piano

Catalogue code: FM219Published: 31st December 2019
Entry last updated: 4th August 2020