A Memory of the Players in a Mirror at Midnight
COMPOSER'S NOTE
A Memory of the Players in a Mirror at Midnight is part of a cycle of ten art songs on poems by James Joyce that I wrote during the winter and spring of 2019.
It is also available as part of a compilation:
Ten Poems of James Joyce (High Voice and Piano)
Ten Poems of James Joyce (Medium Voice and Piano)
THE TEXT
They mouth love’s language. Gnash
The thirteen teeth
Your lean jaws grin with. Lash
Your itch and quailing, nude greed of the flesh.
Love’s breath in you is stale, worded or sung,
As sour as cat’s breath,
Harsh of tongue.
This grey that stares
Lies not, stark skin and bone.
Leave greasy lips their kissing. None
Will choose her what you see to mouth upon.
Dire hunger holds his hour.
Pluck forth your heart, saltblood, a fruit of tears:
Pluck and devour!
James Joyce, 1882 - 1941
DURATION
3¼ minutes
YEAR OF COMPOSITION
2019
CATEGORY
Solo Voice
VERSIONS
High Voice and Piano
Medium Voice and Piano
PERFORMING RIGHTS
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
PURCHASE SHEET MUSIC
US: TBA
World: TBA
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