Three Spanish Songs (2004)
1. Olas grises
2. Nocturno
3. Sueño despierto
soprano, harp; texts: Leopoldo Lugones,
Rubén Darío, and Jose Martí; ca. 9:00
Premiere
October 29, 2004
Jennifer Goltz, soprano and Amy Ley, harp
Kerrytown Concerthouse, Ann Arbor, MI
1. Olas grises Mp3 (4 MB)
2. Nocturno Mp3 (4 MB)
3. Sueño despierto Mp3 (7 MB)
View the score
This cycle is based on contrasting poems by Latin-American
poets Leopoldo Lugones, Rubén Darío, and Jose Martí. It was the use of vivid
imagery that drew me to all three poems and why I chose to write for soprano and
harp. Throughout the cycle, I use evocative harp techniques to depict these
dramatic images. Together with the soprano, the contrasting personalities of
the duet portray the overall themes of the poems. Olas Grises, a poem
that meditates on the nature of life and death, is set as a lyrical,
quasi-strophic song. Nocturno is a frantic soliloquy set as a surreal
recitative and aria. Sueño Despierto is a short poem about a waking
dream. The song is a set of variations on the popular Latin-American lullaby
Nanita nana.
Performance history
2008
June 15
Jennifer Goltz, soprano
Amy C. Ley, harp
American Harp Society
National Conference; Dearborn, MI
2004
October 29 (premiere)
Jennifer Goltz, soprano
Amy C. Ley, harp
Kerrytown Concerthouse, Ann Arbor, MI
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