The White Goddess was the name given by Robert Graves to the mythical figure of his Muse, which he saw personified in different women at various stages of his life. The Black Goddess is the name I have given to the darkest part of Graves' life: his experience of the First World War, to which his short poem Here They Lie is a memorial. Despite the strong and direct impression made by the words, which is reflected in the music, I have also attempted through the music to place a question mark against some of the sentiments expressed. Here they lie, who once learned here All that is taught of hurt or fear; Dead, but by free will they died They were true men, they had pride.* Brian A Inglis, February 1996 The Black Goddess was first performed by Jane Manning (soprano) and members of Jane's Minstrels at City University, London on 1 March 1996. An arrangement for baritone and piano is available from Composers Edition as part of Three War Songs, ce-bi1tws1; ISMN 9790570680818 *From Robert Graves, Poems About War, Cassell, London, 1988. Performing rights administered through SGAE