沃恩威廉斯三組聯篇歌曲之研究與詮釋 ─《生命之屋》、《旅行之歌》、《蕭芙四韻》

Abstract

沃恩威廉斯（Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958）乃是二十世紀英國國民樂派最重要的推手，他的藝術歌曲完整呈現出統一的作曲家個人風格，這種風格更進一步成為二十世紀中期英國藝術歌曲最重要的風格之一。他創作的藝術歌曲及聯篇歌曲，無論是在音域上或是音色上，非常適合男中音演唱。因此，本論文以沃恩威廉斯對中聲部歌手最重要的三組聯篇歌曲作品－《生命之屋》、《旅行之歌》及《蕭芙四韻》為主要研究對象。分為以下四部分做深入之研究：第一部分為英國藝術歌曲與沃恩威廉斯。第二部分為三組聯篇歌曲之創作與簡述。第三部分為三組聯篇歌曲之比較性分析。第四部分為三組藝術歌曲之詮釋理念。最後的結論部分，乃是將前述四部分之中心要旨加以歸納、統整，精簡確實地驗證沃恩威廉斯之歷史定位、作曲手法與風格之轉變，以及如何成就二十世紀中期英國藝術歌曲的新風貌，同時提出筆者個人之演唱心得，期望對三部聯篇歌曲的演繹提供正面的建議。

Ralph Vaughan Williams was the most important British Nationalist composer of the 20th century. His art songs represented a unique personal style and flavor. Furthermore, it became one of the most important music styles of the century. Ralph Vaughan Williams’ songs and song-cycles are perfectly suited for baritone singers, both in range and in color. Because of this, the topic of this thesis is based on his three song-cycles: The House of Life, Songs of Travel and Four Poems by Fredegond Shove; all representing excellent repertoires for mid-voiced singers. There are four parts to this thesis: the first part is “British art song and Ralph Vaughan Williams”; the second part is “Background and Introductions of Three Song-Cycles”; the third part is “The Comparative Analysis of Three Song-Cycles”; the final part is “The Interpretation of Three Song-Cycles”. This thesis also discusses the place in music history of Ralph Vaughan Williams, the progression of his composing skill, the changing of his musical style, and, as a conclusion, how his works brought a “New Face” to the mid 20th century. In the meantime, this thesis offers positive singing suggestions on the above mentioned three song-cycles from the writer’s own singing experience. This is done in the hope of helping future singers who are willing to study these songs.