DUNPHY: “Shadows over a cradle…” (2015)
TEXT:
(Shadows over a cradle...
fire-light craning...
A hand
throws something in the fire
and a smaller hand
runs into the flame and out again,
singed and empty...
Shadows
settling over a cradle...
two hands
and a fire.)
—From Sun-Up by Lola Ridge (1920)
DUNPHY: “Different kinds of shadows” (2015)
TEXT:
There are different kinds of shadows.
The blind ones
are the shadows of things.
These are the tame shadows—
they love to play on the wall with you
and follow you about like cats and dogs.
Sometimes
they hiss at you softly
like snakes that do not bite,
or swish like women's dresses,
but if you poke a candle at them
they pull in their heads and disappear.
But there is a shadow
that is not the shadow of a thing...
it is a thing itself.
When you meet this shadow
you must not look at it too long...
it grows with your looking at it...
till you are all alone
with nothing around you...
nothing... nothing... nothing...
but a shadow
with its eyes full of black light.
—From Sun-Up [IV. Betty] by Lola Ridge (1920)
DUNPHY: It isn’t a dream… (2018)
TEXT:
It isn't a dream....
It comes again and again....
You hear ivy crying on steeples
the flames haven't caught yet
and images screaming
when they see red light on the lilies
on the stained glass window of St. Joseph.
The girl with the black eyes holds you tight,
and you run... and run
past the wild, wild towers...
and trees in the gardens tugging at their feet
and little frightened dolls
shut up in the shops
crying... and crying... because no one stops...
you spin like a penny thrown out in the street
Then the man clutches her by the hair....
He always clutches her by the hair....
His eyes stick out like spears.
You see her pulled-back face
and her black, black eyes
lit up by the glare....
Then everything goes out.
Please God, don't let me dream any more
of the girl with the black, black eyes.
—From Sun-Up [I. Celia] by Lola Ridge (1920)
DUNPHY: It’s strange about stars… (2014)
TEXT:
It's strange about stars ...
You have to be still when they look at you.
They push your song inside of you with their song.
Their long silvery rays
sink into you and do not hurt.
It is good to feel them resting on you
like great white birds...
and their shining whiteness
doesn't burn like the sun —
it washes all over you
and makes you feel cleaner'n water.
—From Sun-Up [IV. Betty] by Lola Ridge (1920)
SATHYANARAYANAN: “Incantation Etude” (2022)
COMPOSER NOTE:
This piece was an etude for the composer and performer exploring timbral changes over time. The word “time” is broken up into its sound-vowel-constituents and used as timbral material for the music. A meditative incantation is created—both for performers and listeners—by maintaining static unisons, but with subtle changes and inflections of timbre, color and dynamics that evolve over time.
ALLEN: “The Fall of Caesar” (2022)
COMPOSER NOTE:
“The Fall of Caesar” seeks to tell the story of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in a way that is truly unique and fresh, through avante garde harmonic structures grounded in dissonance. This piece includes two sections: The first section features phrases of vast chords built by the choir, sung on vowels chosen by the conductor, and the second section tells the story of Caesar's wife warning him that he will be assassinated, only for him to ignore her wishes and meet his demise. Both sections are harshly dissonant, and have characteristics that change from performance to performance based on choices made by the ensemble during the rehearsal process.
TEXT:
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Like a fountain of a hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood to many lusty Romans.
Lo, Caesar is afraid.
Give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
—William Shakespeare
ELIZALDE: “Remember the Ladies” (2022)
COMPOSER NOTE:
The text used in this piece comes from a letter to John Adams from his wife, Abigail Adams, dated March 31, 1776. To me, the text is a reminder that conversations we might be having today about power and dominance have been happening for a very long time. It’s also a reminder that the values fought for by the founding fathers weren’t born out of nothing, but were heavily influenced by the people around them, especially the ladies.
TEXT:
I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and fav’rable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited pow’r into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could.
DUNPHY: “Waves of Gallipoli” (2021)
TEXT:
These long forgotten dead with sunken graves,
Their only mourners are the moaning waves,
I sat there long, and listened - all things listened too
A thousand waves I heard; and then I knew…
How much of love and light and joy
is buried with our darling boy.
He rose responsive to the call
and gave his best, his life, his all.
The call was short, the blow severe
to part with one we loved so dear.
Too far away your grave to see
but not too far to think of thee.
Silent thoughts, a secret tear
keep your memory ever dear.
The dead would be remembered evermore
[That] slept in great battalions by the shore.
MCGUIRE: “Wade in the Water” (2022)
COMPOSER NOTE:
“Wade in the Water” was arranged as part of the series of spirituals that I am arranging to honor my late grandmother. The electronic part of this piece features voices of my family members telling stories about my grandmother and about the history of “Wade in the Water.”
TEXT:
Wade in the water,
Wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water.
God’s gonna trouble the water.
See that girl all dressed in red?
Must be the children that Moses led.
See that girl all dressed in white?
Must be the children of the Israelite.
Wade in the water,
Wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water.
God’s gonna trouble the water.
Look over yonder, what do you see?
The Holy Ghost a-coming for me.
If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed,
Just follow me down to the Jordan’s stream.
Wade in the water,
Wade in the water, children,
Wade in the water.
God’s gonna trouble the water.
—Spiritual
DUNPHY: When the Time Comes (2021)
TEXT:
And when the time comes,
what would you like to be remembered for?
Someone who used whatever talent she had
to do her work to the very best of her ability.
And to help repair tears in her society,
to make things a little better
through the use of whatever ability she has.
To do something outside myself.
'Cause I've gotten much more satisfaction
for the things that I've done for which I was not paid.
“But when it's over, don't look back.
Don't worry about things that are over and done.
Instead, go onto the next case and give it your all.”
—Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2015)
