My Settings of Pomes by James Joyce
I've set all 50 of the pomes of James Joyce to music.
(Does not include withheld pieces)
I've set all 50 of the pomes of James Joyce to music.
(Does not include withheld pieces)
James Joyce, poet
Volume IV, Book IV: Cantata Ballets (See listings in Volume VII. Opera):
2. The Journey: one hour; narrations by the composer with pomes by James Joyce; 1-7 performers (1-5 singers; 1 or 2 narrators). A gay man goes to an alternate universe to destroy "The Beast" but, as a gay man, he would be killed immediately, so he goes as a woman; he finds the love of his life there, and the two women return to the original universe as gay men to continue their love. "The Journey" may also be performed as an oratorio, or as a staged opera (see VII/III/2; with more audio clips), but it is best as a ballet. See V/1b/2. "The Book of Runes" for more contemporary plain song to pomes by James Joyce.
2a. The Journey: with mallets, percussion, piano, optional harp and D.B. string quartet (D.B.) or string orchestra.
2a. The Journey: piano vocal version;
2c. The Journey: with piano and synthesizer: The overture was performed by
The Kinetic Dance Theater of Moscow.
2. The Journey: one hour; narrations by the composer with pomes by James Joyce; 1-7 performers (1-5 singers; 1 or 2 narrators). A gay man goes to an alternate universe to destroy "The Beast" but, as a gay man, he would be killed immediately, so he goes as a woman; he finds the love of his life there, and the two women return to the original universe as gay men to continue their love. "The Journey" may also be performed as an oratorio, or as a staged opera (see VII/III/2; with more audio clips), but it is best as a ballet. See V/1b/2. "The Book of Runes" for more contemporary plain song to pomes by James Joyce.
2a. The Journey: with mallets, percussion, piano, optional harp and D.B. string quartet (D.B.) or string orchestra.
2a. The Journey: piano vocal version;
2c. The Journey: with piano and synthesizer: The overture was performed by
The Kinetic Dance Theater of Moscow.
Volume V. Book Ib. Song Groups with Orchestra (See III/VII):
2. Rain: 13 & a half minutes. June & July 2025;
2a. Rain: 6 songs for low voice with medium orchestra: 2/2/2/2 2/2/2/1 3 perc. harp, and strings.
2b. Rain: 6 songs for for low voice with piano.
2c. Rain: 7 songs for medium low voice and piano.
2c. Rain: original version, for medium low voice with piano premiered, in 2022,
by Hartmut Schulz, baritone, and pianist, Sayoko Akimoto, at Academia Arte, Alser Strasse 28, 1090 Wien, Austria. Dedicated to Mr. Schulz and Ms. Akimoto.
4. 2 Songs from "The Journey": 19 minutes; two songs for low voice, with interludes. Taken from "The Journey." Pomes by James Joyce. See IV/IV/2 and VII/IV/1. May be performed with "Three James Joyce Songs" by Merton Brown.
4a. 2 Songs from "The Journey": mallets, percussion, piano, optional harp, and D. B. string quartet or string orchestra.
4b. 2 Songs from "The Journey": with synthesizer.
4c. 2 Songs from "The Journey": with piano.
Volume V: Book IIIa. High Voice with Instruments:
4. Simples of The Moon: 10 minute set of 5 songs for soprano, flute & viola to pomes
by James Joyce. Unperformed.
Volume V. Book IVa. High Voice with Piano:
3. Three Short Songs for High Voice: 6 minutes; Emily Dickinson (uc), James Joyce and Robert Lewis Stevenson. See VI/IV/4/3. Unperformed.
Volume V. Book IVb. Low Voice with Piano:
1. Five Short Songs: 5 minutes; first two; taken from III/1b/2; codified in July, 2025. Unperformed.
6. Chamber Music: 14 minute cycle of 5 songs, Joyce; Performed and recorded at: BPL, Old South, Boston, Colby College, ME, and many other times by the composer with pianists Merton Brown, Eileen Feldman,& Dr. Sam Walter.
Volume V. Book Va. Unaccompanied Va. for High Voice
3. Night over Bass Rocks: 4 minutes & 40 seconds; cycle of 3 songs to pomes
by James Joyce. Written for my mother: Janet Wheeler Walter, for her birthday. Unperformed.
Volume V. Book Vb. Unaccompanied Low Voice:
The Book of Runes: written in Southern Ireland; 2 groups and a cycle of contemporary plain song to pomes by James Joyce. See "The Journey" IV/IV/2 and VII/IV/1 for more contemporary plainsong.
I. Three Whole Tone Songs: 4.5 minutes; performed by DEW at 1st & 2nd Unitarian n Boston. To hear the recording please click on the button below:
2. Rain: 13 & a half minutes. June & July 2025;
2a. Rain: 6 songs for low voice with medium orchestra: 2/2/2/2 2/2/2/1 3 perc. harp, and strings.
2b. Rain: 6 songs for for low voice with piano.
2c. Rain: 7 songs for medium low voice and piano.
2c. Rain: original version, for medium low voice with piano premiered, in 2022,
by Hartmut Schulz, baritone, and pianist, Sayoko Akimoto, at Academia Arte, Alser Strasse 28, 1090 Wien, Austria. Dedicated to Mr. Schulz and Ms. Akimoto.
4. 2 Songs from "The Journey": 19 minutes; two songs for low voice, with interludes. Taken from "The Journey." Pomes by James Joyce. See IV/IV/2 and VII/IV/1. May be performed with "Three James Joyce Songs" by Merton Brown.
4a. 2 Songs from "The Journey": mallets, percussion, piano, optional harp, and D. B. string quartet or string orchestra.
4b. 2 Songs from "The Journey": with synthesizer.
4c. 2 Songs from "The Journey": with piano.
Volume V: Book IIIa. High Voice with Instruments:
4. Simples of The Moon: 10 minute set of 5 songs for soprano, flute & viola to pomes
by James Joyce. Unperformed.
Volume V. Book IVa. High Voice with Piano:
3. Three Short Songs for High Voice: 6 minutes; Emily Dickinson (uc), James Joyce and Robert Lewis Stevenson. See VI/IV/4/3. Unperformed.
Volume V. Book IVb. Low Voice with Piano:
1. Five Short Songs: 5 minutes; first two; taken from III/1b/2; codified in July, 2025. Unperformed.
6. Chamber Music: 14 minute cycle of 5 songs, Joyce; Performed and recorded at: BPL, Old South, Boston, Colby College, ME, and many other times by the composer with pianists Merton Brown, Eileen Feldman,& Dr. Sam Walter.
Volume V. Book Va. Unaccompanied Va. for High Voice
3. Night over Bass Rocks: 4 minutes & 40 seconds; cycle of 3 songs to pomes
by James Joyce. Written for my mother: Janet Wheeler Walter, for her birthday. Unperformed.
Volume V. Book Vb. Unaccompanied Low Voice:
The Book of Runes: written in Southern Ireland; 2 groups and a cycle of contemporary plain song to pomes by James Joyce. See "The Journey" IV/IV/2 and VII/IV/1 for more contemporary plainsong.
I. Three Whole Tone Songs: 4.5 minutes; performed by DEW at 1st & 2nd Unitarian n Boston. To hear the recording please click on the button below:
II. Four Songs of Rejection and Hope: 5 & a half minute set. The 3nd song is used & recorded in "The Journey" IV/IV/2 & VII/III/2, otherwise unperformed.
III. The Cool Valley: 14 and a quarter minute cycle of 10 songs; 7 songs were performed by the composer at The Boston Public (BPL). The cycle (2022) chronicles a love affair that takes place at several places in Ireland culminating in a storm at Fontana Beach. The conclusion of the cycle is unclear, but somehow things have changed; was there a death or break up, or perhaps the acceptance of true love? Either a happy and sad interpretation is possible.
III. The Cool Valley: 14 and a quarter minute cycle of 10 songs; 7 songs were performed by the composer at The Boston Public (BPL). The cycle (2022) chronicles a love affair that takes place at several places in Ireland culminating in a storm at Fontana Beach. The conclusion of the cycle is unclear, but somehow things have changed; was there a death or break up, or perhaps the acceptance of true love? Either a happy and sad interpretation is possible.
Artwork by Drew Hubbard