Seven Poems of Walter De La Mare (2022)

Instrumentation: High Voice and Piano

Text By: Walter De La Mare

Duration: 18:00

Performances:

Lehigh University Very Modern Ensemble (LUVME)
Risa Harman, Soprano
Seven Beck, Piano
The Art of Song II: Sing Us Home
Zoellner Arts Center, 1/31/2025

Program Notes:

I never thought that vocal music would be a large part of my life. I imagined I would be writing symphonies and string quartets. But man years into my professional career I’ve composed one opera, a cantata for bass, chorus, and orchestra, and (now) two song cycles, and I have only just completed my first symphony. Life, and music, have a funny way of surprising you.

I came upon Walter De La Mare’s poetry practically by accident. I was waiting on text from the librettist of the earlier mentioned cantata (Da Vinci at the River) when I had this idea in my head write a song cycle. I started looking for suitable poetry and when I found De La Mare’s poem “Autumn.” I was captivated. I searched for other poems and eventually found a set of nine that were neatly grouped according to seasons or months (winter to winter). Eventually, I removed two of the poems and settled on seven poems. After finishing the original version for high voice and piano I decided to orchestrate the piece for high voice and chamber orchestra.

Each poem is, on the surface, about a season or month. But, as with most poetry, there is so much more upon deeper reflection. These poems were my partner for over a year and as I read and re-read each one I found that I was constantly shifting my compositional approach. The process of composing this piece (in both versions) has been an immense joy. I hope you enjoy it too.