JAVS Fall 1997

30

Britten finally introduces in the Coda what he has until now held in reserve-the second and third strains of the Dowland song. Britten's homage is never clearer: these strains are even harmonized by a modestly adapted version of Dowland's own lute tablature. They are presented at the same pitch level as the first strain in the Introduction. While the first strain was clearly in C minor, the second and third focus on Eb major until, at the last moment, the music cadences inC minor. By suppressing all but the first strain until this point, Britten has avoided diluting Lachry mae's C minor. The relative major has been hinted at-in the harmonization of the Theme and

FIGURE 12. Motives and phrases of the Theme in the viola part ofVariation 10

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