Michael Head

Nine Cornish Songs

First publication (2007) of nine settings of poems by John Harris, James Dryden Hosken, Joseph Thomas and Charles Causley all with a Cornish theme. The songs are:
Kynance (John Harris) [Range: Bb(Db) - Bb]
Mystic melody (John Harris) [C - Ab]
Porthleven: The brown sails tremble (J. D. Hosken) [C# - A]
The burial (Will's ferret) (John Harris) [D - E]
As I went down Zig-Zag (Charles Causley) [E - G#]
The Lark (John Harris) [Eb - Ab]
Mary, Mary, Magdalene (Charles Causley) [Eb - G]
Gyllyngdune (John Harris) [B - A]
My young man's a Cornishman (Charles Causley) for soprano OR Kitty Cornish (Joseph Thomas) for tenor [E - A].
The ranges are generally suitable for high voice though 'The Burial (Will's ferret)' and 'As I went down Zig-Zag' could be sung by a mezzo or baritone. The songs have been edited by Alison Mary Sutton from Michael Head's manuscript.
Total duration c.25 minutes