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Strings in the Earth and Air
COMPOSER'S NOTE
Strings in the Earth and Air 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's is a light interlude with sparkling piano accompaniment and impressionist overtones. The song’s sultry solo vocal line (in both solo voice and SATB versions) emerges from a progression of minor and dominant 9th chords in this jazz-inspired hymn of nature.
I later arranged Strings in the Earth and Air, along with Night Piece and Bahnhofstrasse—for SATB chorus with high voice solo and piano accompaniment for the Washington Master Chorale's 10th Anniversary Season opening concert. They premiered on October 27, 2019 at the Church of the Epiphany in Washington, D.C. under the direction of Maestro Thomas Colohan, artistic director of the Chorale.
Strings in the Earth and Air is also available as part of three compilations:
Ten Poems of James Joyce (High Voice and Piano)
Ten Poems of James Joyce (Medium Voice and Piano)
Three Choral Songs on James Joyce (SATB)
THE TEXT
Strings in the earth and air
Make music sweet;
Strings by the river where
The willows meet.
There's music along the river
For Love wanders there,
Pale flowers on his mantle,
Dark leaves on his hair.
All softly playing,
With head to the music bent,
And fingers straying
Upon an instrument.
DURATION
3¼ minutes
YEAR OF COMPOSITION
2019
CATEGORIES
Chorus
Solo Voice
VERSIONS
High Voice Solo and Piano
Medium Voice Solo and Piano
SATB Chorus, High Voice Solo and Piano
PERFORMING RIGHTS
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
PURCHASE SHEET MUSIC
US: TBA
World: TBA
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