Strings in the Earth and Air (2019) - 3½'
for high voice solo and piano, or
medium voice solo and piano
COMPOSER'S NOTE
Strings in the Earth and Air is a tender hymn of nature with sparkling accompaniment and impressionist overtones. The song’s sultry vocal line emerges from a progression of minor and dominant ninth chords in this jazz-inspired rendering of text by James Joyce.
Strings is suitable for recitals, competitions and auditions and is available in high voice (soprano or tenor) and medium voice (mezzo-soprano or baritone) versions. It also forms part of my complete collection of art songs with texts by James Joyce:
Ten Poems of James Joyce (High Voice and Piano)
Ten Poems of James Joyce (Medium Voice and Piano)
Strings is available in a choral version (SATB) and is included my choral suite, Three Choral Songs on James Joyce.
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.