Henry Lawes' "The Angler's Song"

Throughout September, the Daily Classical Music Post celebrates the music of 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century England.


https://youtu.be/-zdrMPDIUZQ

The English composer Henry Lawes (1595–1662) was the brother of William Lawes; at the time, Henry was considered to be more important, but it is William who is better known today. The great music critic Charles Burney said that Henry's greatest strength was his simplicity. Many people now recognise that Henry was one of the most significant 17th-century English songwriters.

Henry and William were great supporters of King Charles I, and William died in 1645 in the service of the king. William's greatest works were written for viol consort. I've played a few and they are incredibly innovative, with fascinating textures and harmonies. Henry was more of a composer for voice than for instruments, and he does seem to have had a very fine ear for setting words to music.

Izaak Walter wrote The Compleat Angler in 1653. This lovely celebration of the art of fishing lent itself very well to music, and this sweet little ditty by Henry Lawes is one of my favourite settings. I love Michael Greenhalgh's description of this, one of Henry's most popular songs: "It’s a racy party piece: cast aside all your cares ‘and angle and angle again’. This is a strophic song, that is the two stanzas have the same music, . . . I can imagine it as a drinking chorus with the tune treated to considerable licence."

My classical music post for today is Henry Lawes' "The Angler's Song."

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