How to buy

979-0-57036-607-1 Cruel Sister – Vocal score Available at MusicRoom Buy now (£2.75)
979-0-57036-603-3 Songspin Songbook – Score Available at MusicRoom Buy now (£29.95)

Description

Part of the Songspin Songbook collection

A genre-defying collection of songs for female vocal trio, written for Juice Vocal Ensemble.

Find out about the collection

This murder ballad first appeared in broadside in 1656 as The Twa Sisters but is also known as Binnorie and The Singing Bone. The versions vary a great deal, for example the Norse version has the authorities bring the family a pipe to identify the murderer. When the older sister plays it, blood drips from it and she is condemned to death and pulled apart by horses. My version ends with her unsuccessfully trying to smash the harp in two and then running into the forests, driven mad by the song which will forever pursue her.

First performed by Juice Vocal Ensemble on 28th July 2010 at Harrogate Festival, St James’ Church, Birstwith.

Details

Categories
Duration
4 minutes
Libretto/text
Traditional
Premiere

Juice Vocal Ensemble, Harrogate Festival, St James’ Church, Birstwith, 28th July 2010

Scoring
2 Soprano, 1 Alto
Composition date
2010

Performances

28 July 2010

Harrogate Festival, St James’ Church, Birstwith

Juice Vocal Ensemble