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Songs

Songs

The Hurdy-gurdy Man (1827) D911

Part of a series or song cycle:

Winter Journey (D911)

The Hurdy-gurdy Man

Jeremy Sams

By the open road a hurdy-gurdy man
With his frozen fingers plays as best he can
Dogs are barking round him
People come and go
Still he plays his music
Shivering in the snow
Still he plays his music
Shivering in the snow
Though he’s old and broken
Though his feet are bare
No one seems to notice
No one seems to care
Everyone ignores
The saucer at his feet
Just another madman
Standing in the street
Just another madman
Standing in the street
I must journey onwards
Will you come along?
Play your broken music
To my broken song.

Composer

Franz Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He was uncommonly gifted from a young age, but appreciation of his music was limited during his lifetime. His work became more popular in the decades after his death, and was praised by 19th century composers, including Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and Liszt.

Information from Wikipedia. Read more here.


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Poet

Jeremy Sams

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Previously performed at:

(As part of a song cycle/series:)

About Oxford Lieder

About Oxford Lieder

Oxford Lieder is one of the world's leading promoters of song and the winner of a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award. The focal point of each year is the two-week Oxford Lieder Festival in October.

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