Carmena H Lane Wilson Ellis Walton Song of the Open Road

Carmena by H. Lane Wilson
G. Schirmer, 1898

Carmena

H. Lane Wilson (music)

Ellis Walton (lyrics)

Edward B. Edwards (cover art)

G.Schirmer (publisher), 1898

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Carmena was most likely intended to be an art song yet also crosses over into popular music by use. This love song with a Spanish flair is well suited for coloratura soprano--not necessarily because of a very high range but because of the nature of the piece.  The version presented here is in the key of F minor with a delightful optional cadenza to B-flat below high C.  

Closing Cadenza from Carmena by H. Lane Wilson

Carmena was sung by Jane Powell in the movie Song of the Open Road released in 1944. You can hear Deanna Durbin sing this piece on YouTube. Deanna Durbin sings a cadenza at the end of the song but an easier one than is scored by the composer. Carmena can also be found on old piano rolls available for purchase on websites such as Ebay.

The public domain score for Carmena in PDF downloadable format on Archive.org is from a large-format sheet music copy published by G. Schirmer, presumably in 1898, which is the cover design copyright date shown in the lower left corner. It was published as part of a series titled Modern English Songs. Cover art was designed by Edward B. Edwards (1873-1948). There is no copyright date on the actual score. 

Carmena was composed by Henry James Lane-Wilson (1871-1915), one of many pieces he wrote during his short life, using a text by Ellis Walton, pseudonym for Mrs. F. Percy Cotton. Only scant information on both poet and composer can be found on the internet. According to information available, Wilson, a composer and vocal soloist, was born in Gloucester, England, the son of a bandmaster. He is most well known for his collection of Old English Melodies which be found here on archive.org. You will also find here on archive.org an old 78 recording of his song, Bashful Tom. 

Ellis Walton (pseud.) published at least one book of poetry titled Lyrics, which is available on archive.org for free download, as well as in print-on-demand book copies for purchase on sites such as abebooks.com, and as an antiquarian book when available. Her poetry can also be found on vintage and antique postcards.