Love Songs (1997)
For SATB chorus
Texts by 7 famous poets
Commissioned by Cathy Nicho (for her husband, Raul), Dianne Nolting (for her husband, George Wolter), Bert Dieringer (for his wife, Janna Blanchard), Peter Henschel (for his wife, Kathy), Ron Barrington (for his wife, Christine), Marshall Rutter (for his wife, Terry Knowles), and an anonymous commissioner.
Premiered by Chanticleer on 11 April 1997
Duration: 15 minutes
Program Note by the Composer
The wonderful sound-world — created by the unique and beautiful color of their 12 sublime voices — allied to their abundance of technical skill makes Chanticleer my favorite ensemble. Love Songs is a 15 minute score made up of 7 songs composed specifically for this sound of their individual, extraordinary voices. Each of the men has at least one small solo which was precisely imagined and composed for his specific vocal color. The texts, all classic love poems, are set in a variety of ways ranging from lyrical to humorous to sensuous. I hope you enjoy the pieces because they were loads of fun for me to compose!
Augusta Read Thomas
Texts
I. Eloise to Abelard, Alexander Pope (1688-1744), line 74
Commissioned by Cathy Nicho for her husband, Raul
Curse on all laws but those which love has made!
Love, free as air at sight of human ties,
Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies.
II. A Serenade, Edward Coate Pinckney (1802-1828)
Commissioned by Dianne Nolting for her husband, George Wolter
Look out upon the stars, my love...
III. Cor Cordium, William Sharp (1856-1905)
Commissioned by Bert Dieringer for his wife, Janna Blanchard
Love is a beautiful dream.
IV. Jacqueline, Samuel Rogers (1763-1855), Stanza I
Commissioned by Peter Henschel for his wife, Kathy
She was as good as she was fair,
None — none on Earth above her!
As pure in thought as angels are:
To know her was to love her.
V. Don Juan, Lord Byron (1788-1824), Stanza 199
Commissioned by Ron Barrington for his wife, Christine
Alas, the love of women! it is known
To be a lovely and a fearful thing.
VI. Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Commissioned by Marshall Rutter for his wife, Terry Knowles
For stony limits cannot hold love out.
VII. Love, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
Commissioned by: anonymous
All mankind love a lover.
To obtain examination or performance material for any of Augusta Read Thomas's works, please contact G. Schirmer Inc..