List of Works » Vocal Works » Songs in Wood
Songs in Wood by DAVID BRUCE
| Instrumentation |
marimba, choir (SATB)
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| Duration | c.10 mins |
| World Premiere | Cantori New York, Makoto Nakura (marimba)
Church of the Holy Trinity, NYC, May 7 2011
Japanese premiere, Kyoto Oct 2nd 2011 with Kyoto Gewandhauschor
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| Commission | Commissioned by ISGM New Music Fund for Makoto Nakura |
| Composed | Feb-March 2011 |
| Text | David Bruce |
| Recording |
Kyoto Gewandhauschor, Makoto Nakura, marimba
|
| Score | Available
|
Programme Note
These four short poems on a theme of wood/forests are inspired by Japanese haiku, particularly those by Buson. Like haiku, they each attempt to capture a small but multi-layered idea in which the listener/reader is forced to find their own interpretation. The music hopefully both underlines each poem's idea and meaning, whilst also amplifying their ambiguity and mystery. Inevitably this approach leaves me reluctant to say more about the work, but I will say that whilst the wood of the title obviously refers in part to the marimba, I often thought of the choir themselves as a 'singing forest' - so one way to listen to the piece is to imagine that it is the forest itself that is singing throughout. I will also say that in the third song, Humbaba was the monstrous giant, guardian of the Ceder Forest in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
David Bruce 16 March 2011
1.
A thousand singing leaves,
black singing leaves-
the blackbird tree.
Sing with me to the resounding dawn!
2.
rain whisper
rain caress
rain glisten
rain promise
rain desire
rain burn
rain fire
rain flinch
rain terror
rain torn
rain singe
rain seize
rain crush
rain conquer
rain master
rain worship
rain welcome
rain nourish
rain comfort
rain kiss
rain peace
3.
This cold winter night,
I will turn to fire.
Humbaba is dead.
Come into the light!
4.
How can you know loneliness
when you are one leaf
in a forest of leaves?
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