and all the days were purple

2017
/
Extended Vocal Works

Details

Category

Extended Vocal Works

librettist

WordS by

instrumentation

Voice, Piano, Percussion, and String Trio; Piano-vocal version also available

duration

28'

commissioned by

Roulette Intermedium

premiered by

Eliza Bagg, Lee Dionne, Mike Compitello, Maya Bennardo, Hannah Levinson, and Hannah Collins

Purchase Score

In her poem yorn, Yiddish poet Anna Margolin reflects back on her life, and closes by speaking directly to God ending with the line: “un zukhn dir, nit gloybndik in dir” - “and seeking you, not believing in you.” This poem, as well as the poems included in this work, can be understood kinds of secular prayers. Each deals in some way with the meaning and shape of life, embracing its joy while trying to make sense of its difficulties and transience. Many of my favorite poems are like little talismans or amulets - each a kernel of wisdom that I carry through life because they provide for me something to hold on to in the face of life's challenges and transience - each poem a way of seeking God without believing in God.

and all the days were purple features a collection of such gems in Yiddish and English from poets Anna Margolin, Edward Hirsch, Rachel Korn, Abraham Sutzkever, and Mark Strand. The cycle is bookended with two songs setting Anna Margolin poems that act as a kind of prelude and postlude. Each poem Anna Margolin poem reflects on life from the perspective of being after or outside of it. Instrumental sections separate these two songs from the four others, which reflect on life from within its tumult, longing, beauty, and difficulty.

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cOMPONENT divider

and all the days were purple

Purchase Score
duration

28'

instrumentation

Voice, Piano, Percussion, and String Trio; Piano-vocal version also available

premiered by

Eliza Bagg, Lee Dionne, Mike Compitello, Maya Bennardo, Hannah Levinson, and Hannah Collins

commissioned by

Roulette Intermedium

and all the days were purple

In her poem yorn, Yiddish poet Anna Margolin reflects back on her life, and closes by speaking directly to God ending with the line: “un zukhn dir, nit gloybndik in dir” - “and seeking you, not believing in you.” This poem, as well as the poems included in this work, can be understood kinds of secular prayers. Each deals in some way with the meaning and shape of life, embracing its joy while trying to make sense of its difficulties and transience. Many of my favorite poems are like little talismans or amulets - each a kernel of wisdom that I carry through life because they provide for me something to hold on to in the face of life's challenges and transience - each poem a way of seeking God without believing in God.

and all the days were purple features a collection of such gems in Yiddish and English from poets Anna Margolin, Edward Hirsch, Rachel Korn, Abraham Sutzkever, and Mark Strand. The cycle is bookended with two songs setting Anna Margolin poems that act as a kind of prelude and postlude. Each poem Anna Margolin poem reflects on life from the perspective of being after or outside of it. Instrumental sections separate these two songs from the four others, which reflect on life from within its tumult, longing, beauty, and difficulty.

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