Six Songs Without Words – Set Three

I had written the first set of Songs without words in 2017; this second set was composed during the very first months of 2018, following a similar key scheme. It was subsequently numbered as Set Three, to fit in with the the newly-hatched key scheme for a major ongoing project (see Set Two).
The opening piece in this set was written in Dublin, Song the second was written in Smallridge, and the set was completed in Worcester. Click on the links below to see the beginning of each score.

Song no.1 in E flat major – Amabile e flessible (Listen using the SoundCloud link below)

Song no.2 in C minor – Grave (Listen using the SoundCloud link below)

Song no.3 in B major – Allegro (Listen using the SoundCloud link)

Song no. 4 in G major – Andante tranquilo (Listen using the SoundCloud link below)

Song no. 5 in E minor – Tempo di siciliano (Listen using the SoundCloud link below)

Song no. 6 in E flat major – Piacevole con moto (Listen using the link below)

The opening piece follows a sonata form shape, its first tune possibly reminiscent of Finzi. The short second piece has a contrapuntal nature, not unlike a ricecar . The third piece is more Mendelssohnian; bright and flowing and this is followed by a more peaceful, possibly eventide fourth piece. Piece Five is a heart-aching Sicilienne.

The last song without words in Set 3 starts and finishes with a dreamy passage that has a gentle high register ostinato over mildly piquant harmonies in the left hand. The main body of the piece has a relaxed feel with a meandering melody largely in minims that passes through a number of harmonic twists.