Compare this setting to that by Amy Beach of the same words:
Madeleine Dring (1923–1977), an English composer, actress, and singer, left a lasting impact on the mid-20th-century classical music scene. Trained at the Royal College of Music, Dring’s versatile career encompassed not only composition but also performance in both music and theater. As a composer, she navigated various genres, creating a distinctive body of work that often displayed wit and charm. “Take, o take those lips away,” Op. 37 No. 7, is part of Dring’s Song of the Night, a song cycle for voice and piano, showcasing her ability to capture the nuances of poetry through her music.
“Take, o take those lips away,” Op. 37 No. 7, by Madeleine Dring is a delightful example of her skill in setting text to music. The piece, part of the Song of the Night cycle, demonstrates Dring’s keen sensitivity to the expressive qualities of poetry. With a characteristically English charm, Dring’s composition features a lyrical vocal line accompanied by an elegant piano setting. The title is drawn from Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” and Dring’s musical interpretation reflects the melancholic yet graceful mood of the text. Through her gift for melody and nuanced accompaniment, Dring creates a miniature gem that encapsulates the essence of her contribution to mid-20th-century English art song.
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