- for soprano and concert band
- Commissioned through consortium led by the Cornell University Wind Symphony
- | 17′ | two poems by Sara Teasdale
- I. “…and the hazy orange moon grew up…” (August Moonrise)
- II. “…over leagues of sea…” (Sappho)
consortium members:
Cornell University Wind Symphony – James Spinazolla, conductor
Eastman Conservatory Wind Ensemble – Mark Scatterday, conductor
Louisiana State University Wind Ensemble – Damon Talley, conductor
Syracuse University Wind Ensemble – Bradley Ethington, conductor
University of North Carolina School for the Arts – Mark Norman, conductor
Yale University Concert Band – Thomas Duffy, conductor
Premiere: Premiere: May 4th, 2025 by Cornell University Wind Symphony, dir. James Spinazzola and Ariadne Greif (soprano)
Instrumentation: 1st fl, 2nd fls, 1picc/alto, 2 ob (c.a.), 3 bsn – e-flat cl, 3 cl, 2 bcl (2nd dbl cb cl) – sSax, aSax, tSax, bSax – 3 tpt, 4 hns, 3 trb, eupn, tba – db, pno, cel, hp, perc (5 ) – Solo Soprano
Program note: After finding American poet Sara Teasdale’s poems “August Moonrise” and “Sappho,” I knew that they would be rich and imaginative texts to explore with the timbres of the wind ensemble. The first of the two songs, “…and the hazy orange moon grew up…” (poem August Moonrise), details a warm and radiant evening where Teasdale describes the beauty of nature and the vibrant colors of the setting sun. The poem reflects her love for sublime natural moments. Teasdale’s poem gradually shifts into an existential monologue on mortality and one losing the ability to experience nature’s beauty after death.
The second song, “…over leagues of sea…” (Sappho) is a dramatic monologue from the perspective of the Greek poet Sappho. Like August Moonrise, Teasdale’s immense imagery comes to life and is the main priority of the text. Evoking the essence of Sirens, Teasdale’s Sappho focuses on the vastness of oceans, tides, beaches, and nocturnal activity. Love, desire and great longing are also important aspects of this poem.
The “Poetess” Sappho was known to recite her poetry while music accompanied her. I decided to allow the soprano’s music and the music of the wind ensemble to have different harmonic speeds and intensities. The soprano’s music is set to ebb and fow like she is speaking rather than singing, while the instrumental material slowly floats around harmonies and colors.
…inner flame… deep and blue… was commissioned via a consortium led by the Cornell University Wind Symphony – James Spinazzola, conductor; Eastman Conservatory Wind Ensemble – Mark Scatterday, conductor, Louisiana State University Wind Ensemble – Damon Talley, conductor, Syracuse University Wind Ensemble – Bradley Ethington, conductor, University of North Carolina School for the Arts – Mark Norman, conductor, and Yale University Concert Band – Thomas Duffy, conductor. Te world premiere was given by Ariadne Greif, soprano, and the Cornell University Wind Symphony conducted by James Spinazzola at Cornell University in Bailey Hall, Ithaca, NY, on May 4th, 2025. The work is dedicated to Ariadne Greif and James Spinazzola with admiration and gratitude.
Score: TBD
The score is in exclusivity until May 2026.