Britten did not date When you're feeling like expressing your affection, nor did he indicate the poet. Despite this lack of information, it is believed that Britten's long-time friend and collaborator, W.H. Auden, is the poet. This piece has similarities to the cabaret songs written for Hedli Anderson by Auden and Britten in 1937 and 1939.

In When you're feeling like expressing your affection, the piano and the voice take turns expressing the main rhythmic pattern of the piece, a dotted-eighth note followed by a sixteenth note. When one part has the dotted rhythm, the other has simple quarters. The rhythm combined with the vivace tempo creates a fun and witty piece.



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