King Herod and the Cock

Choral level of difficulty: Level 1 (5 greatest)

This is a simple arrangement of a folk melody collected by Cecil Sharp. Neither the voice part nor the piano part is difficult but, as always, the writing is supremely effective. It was composed for the London Boy Singers and was premiered by them at the 1962 Aldeburgh Festival with Britten at the piano. The first three verses are all the same, the fourth has subtle changes which add a touch of spice to the whole. In performance it is the words which need to be really put across and given dynamic interest, variety and projection.

Repertoire note by Paul Spicer