Weaving songs by contemporary American and Canadian composers into vignettes on the frailty of life and search for connection.

Interlude I

Ned Rorem - Do I Love you More than a Day
Jean Coulthard - Ecstasy

Interlude II

Ricky Ian Gordon - Luck / Song for a Dark Girl
John Adams - La Annunciacion / Stephen Sondheim - I Wish I Could Forget You
Gladys Rich - American Lullaby

The simple declaration and ecstasy of new love (Ned Rorem, Jean Coulthard) of the first interlude develops more mature overtones in the second interlude. The yearning in Langston Hughe's poetry (Ricky Ian Gordon) builds to an intense protestation (John Adams, Stephen Sondheim) that eventually fades into a wistful lullaby (Gladys Rich).

Interlude III

Ned Rorem - Reconciliation
John Musto - Silhouette

Interlude IV

Harry Somers - "Now Every Grief ... "
Aaron Copland - The Chariot

The poetry of Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, Michael Fram, and Emily Dickinson sing of the frailty of life. The contrasting perspectives on war (Ned Rorem/Whitman) and hate (John Musto/Hughes) in the third interlude leads into a consideration of suffering (Harry Somers/Fram), and a philosophical reconcilliation (Aaron Copland/Dickinson) in the fourth interlude.

Interlude V

Ben Houge - Somewhat Shy
Marc Chan - My Soul
William Bolcom - Toothbrush Time
Maury Yeston - Simple

A vignette that reflects on the fragile states of contemporary love: from searching (Ben Hogue), to finding (Marc Chan, William Bolcom), and leaving (Maury Yeston).

{ INTERMISSION }

Interlude VI

Dominick Argento - Fancy
Samuel Barber - Solitary Hotel
Stephen Chen - "My life is very monotonous ..."

A trio of narrative pieces with texts by Virginia Woolf (Argento), James Joyce (Barber), and Antoine de Saint Exupery (Chen) that intersect in their search for connection.

Interlude VII

Daron Aric Hagen - Going / Second Law
Linda Caitlin Smith - Sea Anemone
Ned Rorem - Specimen Case
Ricky Ian Gordon - Home of the Brave

Interlude VIII

Chan Ka-Nin - Farewell
Samuel Barber - Must the Winter Come so Soon?

The final interludes explore the loss of innocence. Hagen's bedside vigil leads to a reflection on transience (Linda C. Smith) and compassion (Rorem, Ian Gordon). Li-Po's (Chan) poignant stoicism contrasts with Erika's lament (Barber) on the untimely arrival of winter, a metaphor for age and experience.

---

Stephen Chen, Mezzo
Christopher Foley, Piano

Thurs, 27 Oct 2005 | 8:00 PM
Music Gallery (link)
 

Proceeds to benefit PWA (People With Aids)