The composer Benjamin Britten met the poet W. H. Auden during the 30s, and they started a partnership based on mutual admiration of their talents. This thesis is a study of their early collaboration – the song cycle “On this Island”, Op.11.

The direction of this thesis draws from the biographies of Britten and Auden, with a particular focus on their relationship and the influences on both sides in the first chapter. In chapter two I introduce the compositional background of “On this Island”. Furthermore, It also includes an analysis on the content of the poems and musical forms. Chapter three analyses on each song independently, according to its forms, harmonies and special musical figures. Chapter four focuses on how Britten translates literal descriptions into musical language. The thesis concludes with a discussion on music interpretation of the song cycle from a performer’s point of view.

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Wei-Chen Fang Vocal Recital Program:

Antonio Caldara﹙1670-1736﹚

Sebben, crudele

George Frideric Handel﹙1685-1759﹚

Ah, mio cor

Vincenzo Bellini﹙1801-35﹚

Malinconia, Ninfa gentile

Franz Schubert﹙1797-1828﹚

An die Musik

Johannes Brahms (1833-97)

Dein blaues Auge

Robert Schumann﹙1810-56﹚

5 songs from Dichterliebe, Op.48

1. Im wundershönen Monat Mai

2. Aus meinen Tränen spriessen

3. Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube

4. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh

7. Ich grolle nicht

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)

Una furtiva lagrima

Aria of Nemorino from opera “L’elisir d’amore”

Gabriel Fauré﹙1845-1924﹚

Ici-bas, Op.8, No.3

Après un Rêve, Op.7, No.1

Nell, Op.18, No.1

Fleur jetée, Op.39, No.2

Benjamin Britten﹙1913-76﹚

3 songs from On this island, Op.11

1. Let the florid music praise

3. Seascape

5. As it is, plenty

趙元任(1892-1982)

教我如何不想她

屈文中(1942-92)

送友人

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky﹙1840-93﹚

Kuda, kuda

Aria of Lensky from opera “Eugene Onegin”