CSABA SZABÓ: “THE BALLAD OF MASON CLEMENT”

Abstract

The ballad of Mason Clement is known since the end of the 16th century. Csaba Szabó composed his work based on the version collected from Vlăhița, Odorhei county. He composed the adaptation of the ballad in 1967 for a mixed choir in four voices, for a children’s choir and for a solo instrument. It was published in the booklet entitled Egyszerű énekek I. (Simple songs I.) in 1968. The tune is repeated twenty-one times by various parts of the mixed choir or by the instrument. Various tempo signs show the limits of the musical parts of uneven length, which are adapted to the lyrics of the ballad.

Keywords

• ballad, recited lyrics, canon of fifths, swirly melodic line, skip in the extended fourth, glissando.