Two War Songs |
for soprano and piano or string quartet
Duration: ~8'30"
Premiere: April 19, 2015 by the Dirac String Quartet; Kait Hess, soprano; Bryan Lin, conductor, St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, PA
The chosen texts depict two different perspectives of the First World War. Rain was written in 1916 during Thomas’ training for his reluctant service in the war (he would eventually die in combat in France a year later). Just as the rain is a constant presence throughout the poem, the pulsing eighth notes in this first song are a blatant metaphor for the rain, as its sound reflects the “solitude” that the author conveys. I chose Teasdale’s Winter Stars to accompany Rain for its contrasting reaction to the war. Written in 1920 after the war's end, she views the stars as a constant in the night sky. Despite the blood spilled and ugliness that the world is capable of holding, "the faithful beauty of the stars" remains. Even if the perceived optimism might be in irony, the pastoral imagery provides for an elegiac setting. These two songs were written to capture this solitude and hope.
Duration: ~8'30"
Premiere: April 19, 2015 by the Dirac String Quartet; Kait Hess, soprano; Bryan Lin, conductor, St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, PA
The chosen texts depict two different perspectives of the First World War. Rain was written in 1916 during Thomas’ training for his reluctant service in the war (he would eventually die in combat in France a year later). Just as the rain is a constant presence throughout the poem, the pulsing eighth notes in this first song are a blatant metaphor for the rain, as its sound reflects the “solitude” that the author conveys. I chose Teasdale’s Winter Stars to accompany Rain for its contrasting reaction to the war. Written in 1920 after the war's end, she views the stars as a constant in the night sky. Despite the blood spilled and ugliness that the world is capable of holding, "the faithful beauty of the stars" remains. Even if the perceived optimism might be in irony, the pastoral imagery provides for an elegiac setting. These two songs were written to capture this solitude and hope.
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RAIN
Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain On this bleak hut, and solitude, and me Remembering again that I shall die And neither hear the rain nor give it thanks For washing me cleaner than I have been Since I was born into solitude. Blessed are the dead that the rain rains upon: But here I pray that none whom once I loved Is dying tonight or lying still awake Solitary, listening to the rain, Either in pain or thus in sympathy Helpless among the living and the dead, Like a cold water among broken reeds, Myriads of broken reeds all still and stiff, Like me who have no love which this wild rain Has not dissolved except the love of death, If love it be towards what is perfect and Cannot, the tempest tells me, disappoint. - Edward Thomas, 1916 |
WINTER STARS
I went out at night alone; The young blood flowing beyond the sea Seemed to have drenched my spirit's wings - I bore my sorrow heavily. But when I lifted up my head From shadows shaken on the snow, I saw Orion in the east Burn steadily as long ago. From windows in my father's house, Dreaming my dreams on winter nights, I watched Orion as a girl Above another city's lights. Years go, dreams go, and youth goes too, The world's heart breaks beneath its wars, All things are changed, save in the east The faithful beauty of the stars. - Sara Teasdale, 1920 |
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