PHILLIP WILCHER'S "MOONFLOWER " REVIEWED
T.S.Eliot is not, I imagine, the easiest of poets to set, some of his writing being obscure,and requiring a good deal of study,which,in its way, makes it all the more exciting to read and declaim. Indeed,some twenty years ago, an English composer,at the behest of Tom Eliot's widow, set his long poem ASH WEDNESDAY for me, so I have some knowledge of his work. All the more reason, then,to take a particular interest in the work of another composer,setting this poet.

Staying within his usual miniature format, Phillip Wilcher has set MOONFLOWER for medium high voice, with a lovely, gentle melody, which is easy to sing, but requires deep appreciation of the words. Although Phillip Wilcher writes in a variety of styles, he never makes unreasonable demands of his singers, nor are his vocal lines "spikey" or ultra avant garde, thus allowing the poems to speak for themselves. This setting is adagio, and with a piano part which is entirely in sympathy with the vocal line, is very satisfying to sing.

HENRY HOWELL, Queensland.
Review Source: Music Teacher Magazine, Vol.10 No.3(Sept-Oct 2003)		 Other Song Reviews
Four Songs reviewed by Henry Howell
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