The Blackbird and the Snail

Based upon Walter de la Mare story 'Miss Duveen', arranged by Robin Holloway. See comments

The Blackbird and the Snail, a character study for speaker and piano, was written in the summer of 1994 for Claire Bloom and Brian Zeger. It is based upon a short story by Walter de la Mare entitled Miss Duveen. It employs three narrative voices; the narrator, a grown man looking back at his boyhood, his grandmother, and Miss Duveen herself.


The main episodes of the story are separated by interludes for piano alone depicting place, character, and the passage of time.


I hope that the music and words between them will express everything else that the listener will need to understand.


Robin Holloway


Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer