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Book I. Solo Voice with Orchestra:
Book Ia. Story Cycles for Low Voice & Orchestra (See IV for dance options & III/VIII)
Book Ia. Story Cycles for Low Voice & Orchestra (See IV for dance options & III/VIII)
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1. Orpheus in The Underworld: 14 & a half minute cycle of 7 songs for low voice; The text, in Latin, is by the 6th century poet, Boethius (right). Orpheus goes to The Underworld to bring Eurydice back. Pluto is so moved that Orpheus may bring her back if he doesn't look at her until they are safely home. This version has a sad ending.
"The Lovers" V/II/1-4 concertos; have a happy ending. 1a. Orpheus in The Underworld: with perc., timp. & str.. 1b. Orpheus in The Underworld: with medium size orchestra: 2+/2+/2+/2+ 2/2/2/1 percussion, timpani, celesta, harp & strings. 1c. Eurydice: with piano; as cablecast as part of "Crazy Dinosaurs" on BNN-TV, with DEW performing the music. Doll house by Jean Risman (left below). To hear "Eurydice" and to see the scores to several of the songs please click on Boethius, Ms. Risman, or either of the two dinosaurs to the right below: |
Boethius, Poet
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Doll's house by Jean Riseman Terry-Anne Tessaurus Rex in "Eurydice"
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2. Remembrance of Love's Death: 16 minute & 20 second cycle of 12 songs to poems by Emily Dickinson (some may still be under copyright: u. c.); for medium low lyric voice: Please see III/VII/6 & IV/III/2. Revision finished on 8/28/25. 2a. Remembrance of Love's Death: with orchestra: 2/2/2 2/2/1/1 per., timp., celesta, & str.. 2b. Remembrance of Love's Death: with harp and double bass string quinet or string orchestra; 2c. Remembrance of Love's Death: with piano. 10 of the songs were performed by the composer with pianist, Eileen Feldman at 1st and 2nd Unitarian Society, Boston. Dedicated to Ms. Feldman. Please click on Eileen Feldman to the right to hear the premiere and read the poems: |
Eileen Feldman, pianist
Emily Dickinson, poet
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Book Ib. Song Cycles for Low Voice with Orchestra (See III/VII): 1. Rain: 13 & a half minutes fo pomes by James Joyce, revised June and July, 2025. 1a. Rain: 6 songs for dramatic bass or alto, with orchestra: 2/2/2+/2+ 2/2/2/1 3 percussion, harp & strings; 1b. Rain: the same, with piano; 1c. Rain: 7 songs for medium low lyric voice and piano (different cycle with some similar songs); 1d. Rain: original version (with one added song), 14 minutes & 10 seconds, for lyric baritone or mezzo-soprano, 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. 2. 2 Songs from "The Journey": 19 minutes; two songs for low voice, with interludes. Pomes by James Joyce. See IV/IV/2 and VII/IV/1. May be performed with "Three James Joyce Songs" by Merton Brown. 2a. 2 Song from "The Journey": mallets, percussion, piano, optional harp, and D. B. string quartet or string orchestra. 2b. 2 Songs from "The Journey": with piano. 2c. 2 Songs from "The Journey": with synthesizer. Below, drawing by Drew Hubbard; Please click the button below to hear the recording by DEW: bass, countertenor, & synthesist; or click on James Joyce to the right to read the pomes for this song set: |
Harmut Schulz, bariston
James Joyce, poet
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Book Ib. Spiritual Settings for Low Voice with Orchestra (See III/VII):
The Three Spirituals Cycles: Two are for piano or orchestra: Deep River 2. When The Stars Begin To Fall; and the third is V/IIIb/4. The Unbroken Circle, with violoncello and double bass: In total there are 18 unique spirituals, with varying transpositions and instrumentations. Any of the spirituals, may be performed in whatever key and order is desired. Most of these spirituals have been performed. Dedicated to the performers:
Leo Abbott; Dorothy Yanish, Merton Brown, Barbara Roth Donaldson, Christopher
Aaron Smith, Yelena Birayeva, Annalise Scovman and Sonante.
1a. Deep River: low voice and medium orchestra: 2/2+/2+/2+ 2/2/1/1 percussion, timp., harp and strings; 18 minute cycle of 8 spirituals. Uniquely set: "Deep River," "Now let me fly," and "Rock-a-my-soul," and in 2024 "Trouble" from
"The Unbroken Circle" (V/IIIa/4) was added with an alternate instrumentation..
1b. Deep River: low voice and piano, 9 spirituals were premiered by the composer with pianist, Barbara Roth Donalson at The First Unitarian Society of Newton, MA.. "Wayfaring Stranger" was first performed by the composer with Leo Abbott, pianist at 1st & 2nd U. U. in Boston & heard on WBZ radio. Please click below to hear my performance with pianist, Eileen Feldman with Music Now.
The Three Spirituals Cycles: Two are for piano or orchestra: Deep River 2. When The Stars Begin To Fall; and the third is V/IIIb/4. The Unbroken Circle, with violoncello and double bass: In total there are 18 unique spirituals, with varying transpositions and instrumentations. Any of the spirituals, may be performed in whatever key and order is desired. Most of these spirituals have been performed. Dedicated to the performers:
Leo Abbott; Dorothy Yanish, Merton Brown, Barbara Roth Donaldson, Christopher
Aaron Smith, Yelena Birayeva, Annalise Scovman and Sonante.
1a. Deep River: low voice and medium orchestra: 2/2+/2+/2+ 2/2/1/1 percussion, timp., harp and strings; 18 minute cycle of 8 spirituals. Uniquely set: "Deep River," "Now let me fly," and "Rock-a-my-soul," and in 2024 "Trouble" from
"The Unbroken Circle" (V/IIIa/4) was added with an alternate instrumentation..
1b. Deep River: low voice and piano, 9 spirituals were premiered by the composer with pianist, Barbara Roth Donalson at The First Unitarian Society of Newton, MA.. "Wayfaring Stranger" was first performed by the composer with Leo Abbott, pianist at 1st & 2nd U. U. in Boston & heard on WBZ radio. Please click below to hear my performance with pianist, Eileen Feldman with Music Now.
2. When The Stars Begin To Fall: high voice: 13 minute cycle of 8 spirituals. Uniquely featured: "When The Stars Begin To Fall" & "Peter, go ring those bells" completed 5/31/24.
2a. When The Stars Begin To Fall: with medium orchestra: 2/2+/2+/2+ 2/2/1/1 percussion, timpani, harp and strings.
2b. When The Stars Begin To Fall: with piano, "Swing Low" was premiered by soprano, Dorothy Yanish, with pianist, Merton Brown at F.U.SN. Please click on the button below to hear their performance:,
2a. When The Stars Begin To Fall: with medium orchestra: 2/2+/2+/2+ 2/2/1/1 percussion, timpani, harp and strings.
2b. When The Stars Begin To Fall: with piano, "Swing Low" was premiered by soprano, Dorothy Yanish, with pianist, Merton Brown at F.U.SN. Please click on the button below to hear their performance:,
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2b. Deep River & 2b. When The Stars Begin To Fall:
with piano, in the high key: 9 spirituals were performed by tenor, Christopher Aaron Smith, with pianist, Yelena Birayeva with Boston Metro Opera on 1/27/12. You can hear this performance by clicking on Mr. Smith's photograph to the right: 1c. Deep River & 2c. When The Stars Begin To Fall: selections performed at 1st & 2nd UU, Boston, MA, by Sonante (soprano, Annalise Skovman with 'cello and guitar) version withheld. |
Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor
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Book II. Two Solo Voices with Instruments:
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1. yes: 4 and a quarter minutes; three duets for two high voices with clarinet or English horn; poem by e. e. cummings (uc). |
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2. A Thought & 3 Folk Songs: 9 minutes: for high voice & low voice with flute and guitar. A Thought (# 1), to a poem by Emily Dickinson, was added in 2025 for Russell Southcott, for guitar and bass. The 3 Folk Songs Dedicated to and performed several times by The Putnam Court Musicians: Kristin Webb, flute; Russell Southcott, guitar, soprano, Mary Saunders (#2 & #4) and DEW, bass (# 3).George W. Harper of Beverly Times wrote of this piece: "Easily the highlight of the concert were several arrangements by David Edgar Walther... Especially satisfying was Walther's setting of three familiar folk songs, a medley that managed to sidestep all the stereotypes with a version of Simple Gifts that owed absolutely nothing to Aaron Copeland's. Walther's touching arrangements of Long Time Ago set Mary Saunders' rich, soprano peeping through the lush harmonic haze of flute and guitar like the sun through the clouds." Please click on the buttons below to hear these folk songs: |
e. e. cummings, poet
Staue of John Henry, Talcott, WV.
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Book III. Solo Voice with Instruments
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Book IIIa. High Voice with Instruments: 1. Echoes: lyric high soprano (alternate version for lyric soprano) & viola; 2 minutes and 45 seconds; poem by Hart Crane; dedicated to, and premiered by soprano, Deborah Cole (high soprano) and violist, David Feltner with Music Now at Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Cambridge, MA. Heard numerous times on WHRB Radio. Please click the yellow/green button below to her Ms. Cole and Mr. Feltner's performance: Deborah Cole, high soprano
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Hart Crane, poet
David Feltner, viola
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2. "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" poem by Henry van Dyke (picture to the right); high voice, flute and organ; written in my early 20s, premiered by & dedicated to Linda Cecil, soprano, Melinda Callis, flute, & the organist of Christ Church, New Brunswick, NJ.. This was my first paid commission. Also performed by Janet Wheeler, soprano; James Scott, flute and Dr. Sam Walter, organ; at St. John's Church, Moorestown, NJ. (the wedding of Linda Cecil & DEW.) Ms. Cecil's picture is below to the left. This hymn is the second number in "That I did always Love" for chorus with soprano & bass soloists & orchestra, IV/III/2. Please click below to hear the first performance:
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Henry van Dyke, poet
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Linda Cecil, soprano
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3a. Serenade and Fugue: a dyad cycle for soprano, and flute; 4 and a half minutes; poems by Thomas Hardy; dedicated to and performed several times by soprano, Mary Saunders & Kristin Webb, flute. To learn more about this piece (the score, the poem & performance histor), please click on the photograph of Thomas Hardy to the right; To hear "Serenade Fugue" please click on the black button below: |
Thomas Hardy, Poet
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3b. A Secret and a Prayer: one minute & 40 seconds; "A Secret and a Thought" with poem by Ann Head (uc); for soprano and flute. Ann and I dated when we were 15. I don't know how many times we met at Good Habour Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts; maybe several times, or perhaps only once. We found a deck of cards with one missing card. We played Gin Rummy and I I lost by that card. Whem we swam together in the cold waves, I discovered that my white swimming suit was transparent when wet. To our credit neither of us drew attention to this embarrassing fact. I never saw her again.
When I as studying at Juilliard, a soprano wanted to do this song. She promised to
send it back to me, but she never did. The original manuscript may still be
somewhere in South Korea. She may also have performed it... who knows?
I re-wrote it from memory on July 14, 2024.
3c. Sora Sono: A lost version for two sopranos included "A Secret and a Prayer."
It was performed in Rockport, MA by sopranos: Janet Wheeler and Charlotte Lord. The score is missing. Instrumental duo version: I/II/1.
When I as studying at Juilliard, a soprano wanted to do this song. She promised to
send it back to me, but she never did. The original manuscript may still be
somewhere in South Korea. She may also have performed it... who knows?
I re-wrote it from memory on July 14, 2024.
3c. Sora Sono: A lost version for two sopranos included "A Secret and a Prayer."
It was performed in Rockport, MA by sopranos: Janet Wheeler and Charlotte Lord. The score is missing. Instrumental duo version: I/II/1.
4. Diptych: 9 minute & 50 second song cycle: two songs separated by an interlude, for high voice, flute, clarinet in Bb, bassoon, and piano. Dedicated to, and performed by the Milestone Trio: flute, bassoon and piano (Phyllis Lehrer, piano) at Princeton University, in a withheld trio version without clarinet or soprano. I don't know who wrote these poems, but it must have been someone familiar with Sylvia Plath or Samuel Beckett. I don't know whether the trio, or the vocal version was written first, but the vocal one is more interesting. Otherwise it is unperformed.
5. Six Valentine's Day Cards: 9 minutes song cycle for high voice, flute, harp and piano; Emily Dickinson; dedicated to, and 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). Please click on Emily Dickinson's photo below to see a list of all of her poems set by this composer.
5. Six Valentine's Day Cards: 9 minutes song cycle for high voice, flute, harp and piano; Emily Dickinson; dedicated to, and 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). Please click on Emily Dickinson's photo below to see a list of all of her poems set by this composer.
6. Some Things That Fly: 7 "things" in 10 minute & 35 seconds; for soprano, flute & guitar to poems by Emily Dickinson. 5 songs dedicated to, and performed several times by
The Putnam Court Musicians: Mary Saunders, soprano; Kristin Webb, flute and Russell Southcott, guitar To hear 3 of these songs please click on the button by Ms. Saunder's picture below; to see a list of all of the poems by this poet that have been set by this composer, please this composer please click on Emily Dickinson's photo to the right below:
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Mary Saunders, soprano Emily Dickinson, poet
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7. Simples of The Moon: 12 minute and 20 second cycle
of 5 songs for soprano, flute & viola to pomes by James Joyce. A study in insanity, based on a wiccan festival which Drew and I hosted that was terribly bad. Unperformed. Please click to the right to see the complete list of pomes by Joyce, as set by this composer: |
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8. Echo and Mirage: 12 minute & 40 second song cycle for high voice to poems by Christina Rossetti. 8a. Echo and Mirage: for with flute, Bb clarinet, marimba, harp, piano, viola, and 'cello with optional cymbals and gong (one player). Unperformed. 8b. Echo and Mirage: with Pierrot ensemble: flute, Bb clarinet, violin, 'cello & piano. Unperformed. 8c. Echo and Mirage: with piano. Dedicated to, & recorded by soprano, Nancy King (photo directly below) with the composer, piano; otherwise unperformed. |
Christina Rossetti, poet
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To hear "Mirage" the second of three movements as recorded by Nancy King, soprano with the composer, please click on the red to the below, or click on Ms. Rossetti's picture,
to the right, directly above, to hear the movement and read the poem:
to the right, directly above, to hear the movement and read the poem:
Nancy King, soprano
9. 4 Orphic Hymns: 19 & a half minutes; for high voice
with clarinet in Bb & guitar. Translations by Thomas Taylor
(left). Original version for high voice of 8 songs with flute
& guitar is withheld. Both versions are unperformed.
Finished on 7/7/24.
Thomas Taylor, poet/translator
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Book IIIb. Low Voice with Instruments: 1. all worlds have half sight. 4 minute song for very low voice, to a poem by e. e. cummings (u.c.). 1a. all worlds have half sight. with double bass string quartet. 1b. all worlds have half sight. with piano. 2. Echo's Bones: A 6 & three quarters minute cycle of 5 songs for lyric low voice with 'cello to poems by Samuel Beckett (uc); four of the songs were performed by the composer with Priscilla Chew (right), at 1st and 2nd, Boston. Dedicated to Ms. Chew. Please click on the buttons below, or on Priscilla's 'cello to read the poems: |
Priscilla Chew, 'cello
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3. The Conqueror Worm: low voice with violin: a 12 minute story cycle to the poem: "Ligeia" by Edgar Allan Poe. This strange tale concerns a theatrical performance, starting with the overture and ending with the final curtain: meanwhile, a mysterious being eats all of performers. This is the complete version of "Ligeia" Unperformed. See IVb/1. "Last Murmurs of Ligeia" is a partial setting of the poem. |
Edgar Allan Poe, poet
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4. The Unbroken Circle: 8 spirituals for very low voice with 'cello & double bass
& optional high & medium gong, cymbal & drone. 14 minutes & 35 seconds. 2024-5. Unperformed.
Book IV. Solo Voice with Piano:
Book IVa. High Voice with Piano:
Please see Book I above, for the piano vocal versions of orchestral song cycles.
1. De Profundis Clamavit: 3 minutes, premiered (in latin) at The United Parish in Brookline, MA by, & dedicated to Shinobu Takagi, mezzo-soprano and Daryl Cooper, pianist. See VI/III/I/2.
2. Love Suicides at Sonezaki (Monaemon Amijima): 3 minutes; poem by Chikamatsu performed (in Japanese) at The United Parish in Brookline, MA by, & dedicated to, mezzo-soprano, Shinobu Takagi, with pianist, Darryl Cooper. Cablecast BNN-TV with animated netsuki as the video "Love Song" as part of "Crazy Dinosaurs" that was cablecast on BNN-TV. Please see the video below, with Ms. Takagi, & Mr. Cooper performing.
Please see Book I above, for the piano vocal versions of orchestral song cycles.
1. De Profundis Clamavit: 3 minutes, premiered (in latin) at The United Parish in Brookline, MA by, & dedicated to Shinobu Takagi, mezzo-soprano and Daryl Cooper, pianist. See VI/III/I/2.
2. Love Suicides at Sonezaki (Monaemon Amijima): 3 minutes; poem by Chikamatsu performed (in Japanese) at The United Parish in Brookline, MA by, & dedicated to, mezzo-soprano, Shinobu Takagi, with pianist, Darryl Cooper. Cablecast BNN-TV with animated netsuki as the video "Love Song" as part of "Crazy Dinosaurs" that was cablecast on BNN-TV. Please see the video below, with Ms. Takagi, & Mr. Cooper performing.
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Monaemon Amijima 1720 Shinobu Takagi, mezzo-soprano Darryl Cooper, pianist
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Love Song, after Chikamatsu; Takagi/Cooper
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3. Three Short Songs: 4 minutes cycle for soprano (or tenor) and piano to words of Robert Louis Stevenson, James Joyce and Emily Dickinson (uc). The third song was premiered by, and dedicated to pianist, Eileen Feldman. |
Robert Louis Sevenson, poet
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4. When the Heart is Full of Love: song cycle for soprano (or tenor) & piano, set to anonymous poems extracted from "The Mask of The Witches" VI/II//7 & VII/III/3. Uses Major/Major 7th & minor/minor 7th jazz chords leaning toward the tritone in simulation of European village melodies and harmonies.
4a When the Heart is Full of Love: 7 & a half minutes: 3 songs sung by The Sister.
4b. When the Heart is Full of Love: 10 minutes & 40 seconds: the three songs from 4a. preceded by, & followed, by the Wiccan High Priestess's song: "Har, Har, Hou, Hou."
5. The Steeple's Remembrance: 12 minute song cycle of 10 songs for soprano
(or tenor) and piano, depicting ghosts calling through the bells of the cathedral
to poems by Emily Dickinson (uc). Unperformed.
Book IVb. Low Voice with Piano:
Please see above, for the piano vocal versions of orchestral song cycles.
1. Wondering: 22 seconds: poem by Charles Schultz (u.c.) from a "Snoopy" comic strip. Please click below on the of Mr. Schultz with his friend, Snoopy to hear my performance with pianist, Eileen Feldman, This song is dedicated to Ms. Feldman.
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2. Three Very Short Songs: for low voice: 1 minute and 25 seconds; poems by Emily Dickinson (u.c.). Please click below to hear the third song as performed by the composer with the pianist, Eileen Feldman, to whom this piece is dedicated.
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3. Last Murmurs of Ligeia: 3 & a half minute cycle of 3 songs excerpted from the poem "Ligeia" by Edgar Allan Poe. This abridged version tells the entire absurd story of the cycle. Performed and recorded at The Boston Public Library, by the composer. See complete setting of the poem is above: "The Conqueor Worm" with violin: IIIb/3. |
Edgar Allan Poe, poet
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4. Three Portraits: 6 minutes; performed several times with by the composer with pianist, Merton Brown. Dedicated to Mr. Brown, & Ms. Cecil. To hear "Three Portraits" please click on the buttons below; or to read the poems click on Mr. Brown to the right: |
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Merton Brown, pianist
1. Old Love: poem by William Butler Yeats:
2. Young Love: poem (u.c.) by Linda Ann Cecil:
3. Secret Love: poem (u.c.) by Emily Dickinson:
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5. 6 Songs to Poems by William Blake: 10 minute song cycle with text from "Songs of Innocence and Experience" by William Blake. Performed by mezzo-soprano, Susan Craft Larson and pianist, Yelana Birayeva with Boston Metro Opera on 1/27/12. Dedicated to all of the performers & to Haig Nalbantian, who gave me the lovely book of Blake poems that
I used to write these songs. You can hear this performance by clicking on the buttons below or click on Susan Craft Larson to hear them and read the poems: Also performed by the baritones: Brett Johnson, at Andover Academy; and by Hartmut Schultz, in Bonn and Cologne, Germany in 2018. Also performed by the composer on many occasions with pianists: Merton Brown and Dr. Sam Walter. You can hear the composer's performance with Dr. Walter by clicking on Dr. Walter to the right. You can read the Blake poems there as well:
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William Blake, poet
Susan Craft Larson, mezzo-soprano
Dr. Sam Walter, pianist and organist
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Brett Johnson, baritone Harmut Schulta, bariton Anais Nin, writer Haig Nalbantian, violinst Suzanne Nalbantian, pianist
5b. Right at The Bouy: for flute, violin & piano. Performed at the Nalbantian apartment
in NYC by Olivier, flute; Haig Nalbantian, violin; & Suzanne Nalbantian, piano (she also named the piece). Anais Nin was in the audience and heard the piece. Withheld & lost.
in NYC by Olivier, flute; Haig Nalbantian, violin; & Suzanne Nalbantian, piano (she also named the piece). Anais Nin was in the audience and heard the piece. Withheld & lost.
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6. Great Streets of Silence: 11 minutes & 50 seconds:
6 song cycle to poems by Emily Dickinson (uc). Revised in 2023 & 25. 6a. Great Streets of Silence: for medium low voice with piano. Original keys for #2-5 6b. Great Streets of Silence: for low voice with piano: first and last songs: original key. Please click on Emily Dickinson's photo to see a list of all of the settings of this poet, by this composer. |
Emily Dickinson, Poet
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7. Chamber Music: 10 minute cycle of 5 lyric songs to pomes by James 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, dedicated to these pianists. Please click below to hear my performance of the first song of this cycle; or please click on James Joyce to hear the whole cycle and read his pomes.
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"Chamber Music" James Joyce, poet
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8. Cascando: 12 and a half minute cycle of 4 songs for low voice to poems by Samuel Beckett (uc); Revised 2023/25/ Two withheld versions for strings, harp & percussion. Unperformed.
Book V. Unaccompanied Voice
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Book Va. Unaccompanied for High Voice
1. Dachshund: 47 seconds; poem by Jill Shapiro (uc). This song is dedicated to Jill Shapiro. Unperformed. 2. Mother Goose Songs: 3 minute & 15 second cycle of 7 songs in 100 notes; Poems from Mother Goose (1919). Unperformed. Drawing by Arthur Rackham to the right. 3. Night over Bass Rocks: 4 minutes & 40 seconds; cycle of 3 songs to pomes by James Joyce. Written for my mother: soprano, Janet Wheeler Walter, for her birthday. Unperformed. 4. Cal'mus: 6 & a half minute cycle of 4 gay love songs for tenor or baritone; poems by Walt Whitman (right) from "The Leaves of Grass" received its European premiere by baritone, Hartmut Schulz (right) on 11/4/23 in Kleiner Ehrbar-Saal in Vienna, as part of a concert called "Four Seasons in America / Fall" by the Opera on Tap Vienna Chapter. Premiered by Christopher Aaron Smith (below) on 1/27/2012 with Boston Metro Opera. Dedicated to Mr. Schulz & Mr. Smith. To hear "'Cal'mus" as sung by Mr. Smith please click on the red button below: Christopher Aaron Smith,, tenor
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Mother Goose, 1913
Walt Whitman, poet
Hartmut Schulz, baritone
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Book Vb. Unaccompanied Low Voice: 1. A Tree: 1 minute song to a poem by Joyce Kilmer. Written for Virginia Harms, alto soloist for The Easter Show at Radio City Music Hall, NYC, and my dear friend. She can be heard as the final soloist in my "St. Mark Passion" VI/II/7. "A Tree" is Unperformed. 2. The Book of Runes: written in Southern Ireland; 3 cycles of contemporary plain song to pomes by James Joyce. Please see "The Journey" IV/IV/2 and VII/IV/1 for more contemporary plainsong to Joyce pomes. Please click on James Joyce (right) to see and hear all of this composer's settings of all of the pomes by James Joyce. I. Three Whole Tone Songs: 4 & a half minute set; performed by DEW at 1st & 2nd Unitarian in Boston. To hear the recording please click the button next to Drew Hubbard's drawing of DEW singing in concert; or click on James Joyce to the right, to hear the piece and read his pomes. |
Joyce Kilmer, poet
James Joyce, whole tone songs
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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.
& recorded in "The Journey" IV/IV/2 & VII/III/2, otherwise unperformed.
III. The Cool Valley: 17 minute cycle of 13 songs, to pomes by James Joyce, with the genders made neutral; 5 songs were performed by the composer at The Boston Public Library. The cycle (2023) chronicles a love affair that takes place at several locations 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, perhaps love in the afterlife, or the hope of new love? Either a happy or a sad interpretation is possible. Performers and listeners can decide for themselves. To hear the recording, please click on the orange button to the left; or to click on the photo of Cabra to hear the five songs, and read his pomes.
