From: Four Views of Love
Category: Vocal Music / Art Song
Instrumentation: voice, piano
Duration: 1.5 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate; somewhat more difficult for singer
Text / Source: Poem by Thomas Hardy
Publisher: North Star Music / Alymar

A Thunderstorm in Town is a compact, characterful setting of Thomas Hardy’s poem, offering a charming look at young love. Within Four Views of Love, it provides a lighter and more playful contrast to the cycle’s songs of loss, devotion, and melancholy remembrance.

The song is written in a free strophic form. Its chromatic language and vocal leaps add expressive energy and dramatic sparkle, giving the singer an opportunity to bring out both wit and youthful affection.

Although intermediate overall, A Thunderstorm in Town is somewhat more demanding for the singer because of its chromaticism and leaps. It benefits from clear diction, agile phrasing, and a lively sense of character.