My Settings of Poems by Emily Dickinson
Unless there is an E. D. addict I've not heard of yet, I've set more
of Emily Dickinson's poems than anyone else.
(Doesn't include withheld pieces,
like a complete version of Off-nights (VIII/II/7)
with settings of her poems)
Unless there is an E. D. addict I've not heard of yet, I've set more
of Emily Dickinson's poems than anyone else.
(Doesn't include withheld pieces,
like a complete version of Off-nights (VIII/II/7)
with settings of her poems)
Emily Dickinson, poet
Volume IV. Book IV: Cantata Ballets (See listings in Volume VII. Opera):
1A. Ample Make This Bed: Set in the 1980s, this is the story of two gay men, one of whom contracts A. I. D. S..
1B. Covid-19: Completed in April of 2020 during the covid-19 pandemic, and set in 2020, "Covid-19" is the story of two lovers, who are again referred to simply as A and B.
1a. Ample/Covid-19a: 1 hour and 50 minutes for a poetry reader (A), soloist (B); trio; chorus; small to medium sized orchestra: 2 2+ 2+ 2+ 1/1/1/1 percussion, timpani; harp; strings & at least 3 dancers.
1b. Ample/Covid-19b: piano vocal version of 19a.
1c. Ample/Covid-19c: 95 minutes (55 shorter movements); reader (A); soloist (B); trio and/or small chorus; English horn, clarinet doubling bass clarinet, bassoon doubling contrabassoon; D. B. string quartet, piano, & at least 3 dancers.
1d. Ample/Covid-19d. piano vocal version of 19c; This is the original version.
1A. Ample Make This Bed: Set in the 1980s, this is the story of two gay men, one of whom contracts A. I. D. S..
1B. Covid-19: Completed in April of 2020 during the covid-19 pandemic, and set in 2020, "Covid-19" is the story of two lovers, who are again referred to simply as A and B.
1a. Ample/Covid-19a: 1 hour and 50 minutes for a poetry reader (A), soloist (B); trio; chorus; small to medium sized orchestra: 2 2+ 2+ 2+ 1/1/1/1 percussion, timpani; harp; strings & at least 3 dancers.
1b. Ample/Covid-19b: piano vocal version of 19a.
1c. Ample/Covid-19c: 95 minutes (55 shorter movements); reader (A); soloist (B); trio and/or small chorus; English horn, clarinet doubling bass clarinet, bassoon doubling contrabassoon; D. B. string quartet, piano, & at least 3 dancers.
1d. Ample/Covid-19d. piano vocal version of 19c; This is the original version.
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Volume V. Book I. Solo Voice with Orchestra:
2. Remembrance of Love's Death: 21 minute cycle of 12 songs; Emily Dickinson; for low voice: 2a. Remembrance of Love's Death: with orchestra: 2/2/2 2/2/1/1 harp, percussion & strings. See the same selections in Volume III, Book ViII. 2b. Remembrance of Love's Death: with harp and double bass string quartet or string orchestra; 2c. Remembrance of Love's Death: with piano. 9 of the songs were performed by the composer with pianist, Eileen Feldman at 1st and 2nd Unitarian Society, Boston. Please click on Eileen Feldman to the right to hear the premiere and read the poems: |
Eileen Feldman, pianist
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Volume V. Book III. Solo Voice with Instruments Book IIIa. High Voice with Instruments:
3. Six Valentine's Day Cards: 6 minute cycle for soprano, flute, harp and piano;
Emily Dickinson; performed, in an earlier, withheld version by Eric Mazonson, pianist, in Marblehead, MA. with soprano, Mary Saunders; Kristin Webb, flute; and Russell Southcott, guitar: The Putnam Court Musicians (PCM).
3. Six Valentine's Day Cards: 6 minute cycle for soprano, flute, harp and piano;
Emily Dickinson; performed, in an earlier, withheld version by Eric Mazonson, pianist, in Marblehead, MA. with soprano, Mary Saunders; Kristin Webb, flute; and Russell Southcott, guitar: The Putnam Court Musicians (PCM).
5. Some Things That Fly: 7 songs for soprano, flute & guitar to poems by Emily Dickinson; 10 minutes & 35 seconds; 5 songs performed several times by The Putnam Court Musicians: Mary Saunders (picturd below), soprano; Kristin Webb, flute and Russell Southcott, guitar To hear 3 songs please click on the red button:
Book IIIb. Low Voice with Instruments:
2. Five Thoughts: 11 minutes & 45 seconds.
2a. Five Thoughts: for low voice with double bass string quartet.
2b. Five Thoughts: for low voice with piano.
1. A Thought: 2 minutes; to a poem by Emily Dickinson. alternate version with guitar.
2. Five Thoughts: 11 minutes & 45 seconds.
2a. Five Thoughts: for low voice with double bass string quartet.
2b. Five Thoughts: for low voice with piano.
1. A Thought: 2 minutes; to a poem by Emily Dickinson. alternate version with guitar.
Book IVa. High Voice with Piano:
3. Three Songs: 6 minutes; #1 is a setting of a poem by Emily Dickinson (uc).
5. The Steeple's Remembrance: 14 & a half minute set of 10 songs, each depicting
the ghost of a woman who has died; Dickinson (uc). Unperformed.
3. Three Songs: 6 minutes; #1 is a setting of a poem by Emily Dickinson (uc).
5. The Steeple's Remembrance: 14 & a half minute set of 10 songs, each depicting
the ghost of a woman who has died; Dickinson (uc). Unperformed.
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Volume V. Book IVb. Low Voice with Piano:
2. Three Portraits: 6 minutes; #3 "Secret Love" is a setting of a poem Emily Dickinson. Performed several times with by the composer with pianist, Merton Brown (right). To hear "Three Portraits" and read the poems click on Mr. Brown to the right: |
Merton Brown, pianist
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3. Three Songs: 6 minutes; #1 is a settign of a Dickinson poem (uc).
5. Great Streets of Silence: 12 minutes & 20 seconds: 7 song set to poems by Emily Dickinson (uc). Revised in October & November, 2023.
5a. Great Streets of Silence: for medium low voice with piano. Original keys for #2-5
5b. Great Streets of Silence: for low voice with piano: first and last songs: original key.
5c. Three Short Songs: 1 minute & 35 seconds; for medium voice, taken from 5a/b: a 50 second revised version of "Silence" #6, & 2 shorts songs (40 & 15 seconds respectively).
5. Great Streets of Silence: 12 minutes & 20 seconds: 7 song set to poems by Emily Dickinson (uc). Revised in October & November, 2023.
5a. Great Streets of Silence: for medium low voice with piano. Original keys for #2-5
5b. Great Streets of Silence: for low voice with piano: first and last songs: original key.
5c. Three Short Songs: 1 minute & 35 seconds; for medium voice, taken from 5a/b: a 50 second revised version of "Silence" #6, & 2 shorts songs (40 & 15 seconds respectively).
Volume VI. Book I. Unaccompanied Chorus
8. Sic Transit gloria mundi: 3 part women's chorus or solo trio; 15 and a half minutes in English with some Latin; Emily Dickinson (uc). Poem used with permission. A Valentine (1882) to Mr. William Howland. Music, written by August 31, 2021: a Valentine to Mr. Drew Hubbard. Unperformed.
Volume VI. Book III. Chorus with String Orchestra:
2. That I Did Always Love: SATB chorus with soprano and bass-baritone soloists, flute doubling alto flute (all versions), 5 movements; 19 minutes; Movements I, III & V use poems by Emily Dickinson.
2a. That I did Always Love: That I did Always Love: with percussion (triangle, gong and cymbals), timpani, harp, and strings.
2b. That I did Always Love: That I did Always Love: with flute doubling alto flute, harp, violin, viola, 'cello and double bass.
2c. That I did Always Love: with flute, and piano or organ.
3. Lavender Requiem: 7 movements in 22 minutes; with soprano solo, solo SSATB quartet, chorus, percussion, timpani and string orchestra. Number II, is a setting of a poem by Emily Dickinson.
2a. Lavender Requiem: with timpani and strings.
2b. Lavender Requiem: with keyboard.
4. Year of The Plagues: for soprano & bass soloists (tenor and/or alto may substitute) & mixed chorus 28 minutes. #3. Halloween, for soprano, uses a Dickinson poem.
4a. Year of The Plagues: with soloists, large chorus, flute, percussion, harp & strings. Movement 6 employs brass sextet 2/2/1/1, optional vibraphone & timpani.
4b. Year of The Plagues: with soloists, small chorus or vocal quartet, flute, percussion, harp & double bass string quartet. Movement 6 employs optional vibraphone.
4c. Year of The Plagues: soloists and chorus with piano.
8. Sic Transit gloria mundi: 3 part women's chorus or solo trio; 15 and a half minutes in English with some Latin; Emily Dickinson (uc). Poem used with permission. A Valentine (1882) to Mr. William Howland. Music, written by August 31, 2021: a Valentine to Mr. Drew Hubbard. Unperformed.
Volume VI. Book III. Chorus with String Orchestra:
2. That I Did Always Love: SATB chorus with soprano and bass-baritone soloists, flute doubling alto flute (all versions), 5 movements; 19 minutes; Movements I, III & V use poems by Emily Dickinson.
2a. That I did Always Love: That I did Always Love: with percussion (triangle, gong and cymbals), timpani, harp, and strings.
2b. That I did Always Love: That I did Always Love: with flute doubling alto flute, harp, violin, viola, 'cello and double bass.
2c. That I did Always Love: with flute, and piano or organ.
3. Lavender Requiem: 7 movements in 22 minutes; with soprano solo, solo SSATB quartet, chorus, percussion, timpani and string orchestra. Number II, is a setting of a poem by Emily Dickinson.
2a. Lavender Requiem: with timpani and strings.
2b. Lavender Requiem: with keyboard.
4. Year of The Plagues: for soprano & bass soloists (tenor and/or alto may substitute) & mixed chorus 28 minutes. #3. Halloween, for soprano, uses a Dickinson poem.
4a. Year of The Plagues: with soloists, large chorus, flute, percussion, harp & strings. Movement 6 employs brass sextet 2/2/1/1, optional vibraphone & timpani.
4b. Year of The Plagues: with soloists, small chorus or vocal quartet, flute, percussion, harp & double bass string quartet. Movement 6 employs optional vibraphone.
4c. Year of The Plagues: soloists and chorus with piano.