The Official Edward Gregson Web Site

• Genre: Vocal & Choral
• Date of Composition: 1980
• Instrumentation: High voice and piano
• Piece Duration: 12'
• Publisher: Novello

These Songs were written specially for Enid Hardwick who gave them their first performance (with Richard Deering - piano at the Purcell Room, London on 22 December 1980.

Although I have used William Blake's title for my group of songs, the poems I have chosen are not by him. My use of the title, however, has a direct link with Blake - the sentiments are the same.

Innocence and Experience here have a further meaning. I wrote the first two songs in 1965 whilst still a student (with Alan Bush at the Royal Academy of Music), while the latter three were completed only within the last two months.

The poems are as follows:

The first two represent Innocence and are concerned with the qualities of human love, and of the eternal symbol of nature.

The last three are concerned with cruelty and injustice in society, with the last poem at least summoning up some hope for the individual, a sort of rebirth, paralleling Blake's visionary view of life. 'And through your victory I shall win the light'.

Edward Gregson - December 1980

Download Programme Note