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SONG-CYCLE AND SHORT SONG 301
lain inert on their shelves for two or three years, but by degrees it asserted itself, and has now become a pest all over the five continents."
Noel Johnson is another composer who has made a speciality of the short song, though his first big success, " If thou wert blind," can hardly be said to come under that category. This song has had a long run of popularity, and has the distinction of being published in both a French and a German edition. The words are by Constance Sutcliffe. Of his short songs none have ever exceeded the popularity of "The Rose" and "The River and the Sea," the words of which are by Teschemacher.
Johnson has also published several settings of Heine which he himself considers to be among his best work. Later he has taken more to the composition of the longer ballad, of which his " Farewell to Summer" is an example.
The songs of Charles Willeby are well known, both in this country and America. "The birds go north again," " Four-leaf Clover, " and "Summer Rain" are among the most popular songs of recent years, and these are only a few of those that might be named. Willeby has a great liking for setting the poems of the late W. E. Henley, and two of these, "I send you roses" and "When the west is paling," have been amongst the most popular of his songs. " Mr. |
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