A musical analysis of Michael Head's song cycle, Over the Rim of the Moon

Abstract

The song cycle of Over the Rim of the Moon presented in this study comprises works performed in the master’s recital of the author on November 14, 2020. The study explores the composer’s early life and style of writing in the four pieces of the song cycle “The Ships of Arcady,” “Beloved,” “A Blackbird Singing,” and “Nocturne” and seeks to define the influences on Michael Head’s compositional style and specifically his early works. The study also gives a detailed musical analysis on “The Ships of Arcady,” “Beloved,” “A Blackbird Singing,” and “Nocturne” from Michael Head’s Over the Rim of the Moon song cycle.