History
Before obtaining a degree in Music in 1900, Cyril Rootham gained his original degree in Classics in 1897. So the works of the Greek poet Theocritus would have been very familiar to him, and on the manuscript of this work the lyric text in classical Greek is in CBR's own hand.
CBR set this song for an unusual combination: solo soprano, harp and string quartet. The title page of the work carries an explanation of why the Song was composed in 1913:
"Composed for the representation of the 15th Idyll of Theocritus
at Bedford College, Regent's Park, London, at the meeting of the
British Classical Association, Jan. 1914"
Publication status
By permission of the Master and Fellows of St.John's College, Cambridge
This work has never yet been published, and we are very grateful to St. John's College for making available a copy of the original manuscript.
Manuscript title page: Op.47 Song from Theocritus 15th Idyll
The work has now been typeset and is undergoing proofreading, not least of the lyrics in classical Greek. Eventually we hope to publish the song in late 2018 or 2019.
Typeset page: Op.47 Song from Theocritus 15th Idyll
About this recording
Disclaimer In the absence of a live recording, we can only play a synthesized MP3 file generated from the typeset score. It makes no artistic claims, and should only be used to gain a rough impression of the work.
