7 Songs for Soprano and Piano
on poems by Carl Sandburg
Publisher
E. C. Schirmer Music Company
Catalog Number
8574
Order – Print
E. C. Schirmer Music Company
J. W. Pepper
Music Shop Europe
Sheet Music Plus
Order – Download
E. C. Schirmer Music Company
Description
This collection follows a narrative in which the first two poems shine bright light on reality after both a literal and a metaphorical storm, after which that light is amplified and changed into a more mysterious atmosphere by a fog that allows the speaker to feel free to confess his sins. The regular cycles of nature provide the winds that blow away that sin from the speaker, once it is confessed, after which the gentle light of a harvest moon provides the healing softness that allows even Death to whisper as a friend. Purification continues as we are reminded of the innocence of children to look up and stare in awe and wonder at the moon’s light, and finally the daily cycle of nature brings night to the town, where the forgiveness of that confessed sin allows its inhabitants to enjoy perfect peace and sleep.
Texts
1 – Follies
2 – Mask
3 – Pearl Fog
4 – The South Wind Says So
5 – Under The Harvest Moon
6 – Child Moon
7 – Between Two Hills
Year of Composition
2017
Duration
24 minutes
Commission
SongFest
2017 Sorel Commission
Los Angeles, CA
Dedication
Rosemary Ritter and Judy Cope
First Performance
June 24, 2017
SongFest
Colburn School
Los Angeles, CA
Tabitha Burchett, soprano
Riley McKinch, piano
Listen
Tabitha Burchett, soprano
Riley McKinch, piano
When the South Wind Sings