Alun Hoddinott’s Two Welsh Nursery Tunes were composed in
1959 and are dedicated to the composer’s son Huw Ceri who was born on 27 March
1957. Hoddinott stated that this work was written whilst on holiday in New
Quay, Cardiganshire. The tunes used were those that his wife was habitually
singing to their little son.
Hoddinott has written a wide
variety of music over his career including operas, symphonies and many
concertos. Most of his music is approachable, although often requiring some
application by the listener. However, amongst the ‘serious’ works are a number
of excellent and well-crafted ‘light’ pieces. These include the four sets of Welsh Dances, the Investiture Dances and a Quodlibet
on Welsh Nursery Tunes.
The late nineteen-fifties were a
busy period for the composer: a wide variety of pieces had appeared including
the Concerto for harp and orchestra, the Piano Sonata No.1 and the first set of
Welsh Dances.
The two movements of the Two Welsh Nursery Tunes form ‘a simple
but effective diptych of traditional tunes.’ The first is ‘Suo Gän’, which
means ‘lull-song’: it is a traditional Welsh lullaby which was first printed
around 1800. The composer is unknown. The words of the song were collected by
the Welsh folklorist Robert Bryan (1858-1920).
The second tune is ‘Pedoli’ which is translated as a ‘shoeing
song.’ Although the programme notes do
not state the fact, this was a song sung by the blacksmith as he shoe-ed
horses.
Hoddinott uses a ‘Sibelius-size’
orchestra with two each winds, horns, trumpets, trombones, optional harp and
celesta and strings. The piece does not make use of timpani.
The ‘Lullaby’ is naturally the
slow movement, whilst the ‘Pedoli’ is considerably faster. The first piece
opens gently with an oboe stating the tune accompanied by the harp. Strings
enter and repeat the tune. Soon the music builds up to a considerable climax
before collapsing to near silence.
The ‘Pedoli’ has an attractive
lilt to it from the very first bar. Lots of woodwind figurations accompany the
simple tune on strings. Once again the formal process is basically repetition
of the tune with considerably varying orchestral devices. The movement ends
with a little flourish. Both ‘tunes’ together last just over five minutes.
The first performance of the Two Welsh Nursery Tunes was at the BBC
Studios in Cardiff on 22 January 1961. The BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra was
conducted by the composer. The work was
duly published in the following year by Oxford University Press.
Peter J. Pirie, writing in The Musical Times (November 1962) noted
that that the tunes [are] simply stated, [with] the usual Hoddinott orchestral
fingerprints. His habit of rather sectional orchestral writing, winds usually
playing an arpeggiated theme in unison, is becoming a mannerism. But these two
functional movements are quite pleasant and written with easy skill.’
The reviewer, E.R. writing in Music and Letters, October 1962 suggests
that ‘Alun Hoddinott's piece…keeps rigidly to the modal implications of the
nursery tunes used’.
He considers that both tunes ‘use
the orchestra with a high regard for effectiveness and imaginatively enhance
the beauty of the tunes. Neither is difficult to perform.’
An important review of the score
appeared in Music & Musicians (March 1963). Llifon Hughes-Jones
writes: 'Though both of these engaging
pieces are in 6/8, their different moods make a pleasant contrast.’ The ‘Suo
Gän was ‘expressively lilting’ and had ‘soothing muted strings lulling in
company with discreetly scored woodwind and brass.’ Hugh-Jones noted that the
Shoe-ing Song had the effect of a hammer tapping nails suggested by the
glockenspiel and harp. Finally, he pointed out that Hoddinott had ‘abandoned
his usual idiom here for what we might term a more conventional one. The result
is delightful.’
The Two Welsh Nursery Tunes is a
delightful work. It would make an excellent entry piece to any listener who has
not any of Alun Hoddinott’s music. It is not particularly typical of his
musical style, however it is a piece that is worthy of the composer in every
way.
The Two Welsh Nursery Tunes are
available on Dutton
Epoch CDLX 7283
Note: this is an updated post, original published
here 2013
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