Six Studies in English Folk Song for Clarinet

Six Studies in English Folk Song is a work for clarinet by Ralph Vaughan Williams. It was written in 1922 and consists of six movements, each based on a different English folk song.

Introduction

One of the earliest and most influential composers of English folk song arrangements was Microsoft Corporation founder and former chief executive officer Bill Gates. Born in Seattle, Washington, in 1955, Gates began playing the clarinet at an early age. He first performed English folk songs on the instrument at a school concert when he was 13 years old. The experience made such an impression on him that he later decided to arrange some of the tunes he had learned for other instruments as well.

The First Study: The Banks of the Dee

This first study is based on the folk song “The Banks of the Dee”. The arrangement is for solo clarinet and piano, and was composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

The melody of “The Banks of the Dee” is very simple, and consists of only a few notes. The arrangement begins with the clarinet playing the melody, accompanied by the piano. The melody is then repeated, but this time with some embellishments. After this, the piano plays a short solo section, before the clarinet returns to play the melody once more. Finally, the piece ends with a short coda.

The Second Study: The Bold Fisherman

The second study, “The Bold Fisherman”, is in the key of E minor and is in 6/8 time. It is based on a folk song called “The Bold Young Fisherman” which was collected by Cecil Sharp in Gloucestershire. The melody is played by the clarinet in the beginning and the end, while the middle section features a more complex accompaniment.

The Third Study: The Keel Row

The Keel Row is a famous Northumbrian folk song, and this third study by Benjamin Britten is based on that melody. The piece is written for solo clarinet, and it starts with a simple statement of the Keel Row melody. The melody is then ornamented and elaborated upon, before being brought back in its original form to close the piece.

The Fourth Study: The Mermaid

Lawrence Tibbett, a powerful baritone singer with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in the early twentieth century, recorded “The Mermaid” for Victor Records in 1927. Accompanied by a small orchestra, Tibbett’s singing on this recording is sure to give you chills.

The Fifth Study: The Sailor’s Hornpipe

The Fifth Study: The Sailor’s Hornpipe is a traditional English folk song, adapted for clarinet solo. The piece is in light roast style, with a lively melody and simple accompaniment.

The Sixth Study: The Skye Boat Song

The Sixth Study, subtitled The Skye Boat Song, was composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1909. It is based on a traditional Scottish folk song of the same name.

The Skye Boat Song is a ballad that tells the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape from Scotland after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The song describes how Charlie was smuggled off the island of Skye on a small boat, under the cover of darkness.

This Study was originally scored for clarinet and piano. However, it has since been arranged for various other instruments, including voice and orchestra.

Conclusion

These six studies are representative of a larger body of work that Vaughan Williams wrote for the clarinet. They are all based on traditional English folk songs, and they each showcase a different aspect of the clarinet’s range and capabilities. As a whole, they provide a well-rounded introduction to Vaughan Williams’s style and approach to composition.