Dirge and Hymeneal (1969)

Dirge and Hymeneal sets a poem of the same title in three parts written by the 19th Century poet Thomas Lovell Beddoes. The poem is sub-titled “SUPPOSED TO BE SUNG AS THE FUNERAL AND WEDDING PROCESSIONS CROSS EACH OTHER AT THE CHURCH DOOR.

The opening Dirge is followed by a joyful Hymeneal followed by another Dirge. The piece was first performed at the Conway Hall in November 1969 by Sheila Amit, Benjamin Luxon and David Willison.

Brian Elias