into the strenuous briefness

into the strenuous briefness

SATB Chorus

This setting of e.e. cummings’ gorgeous poem attempts to capture its billowing enthusiam and fragmented imagery with a two main compositional techniques: One texture features gradual motion in all parts away from a central pitch axis to a climactic eight-part cluster, followed by a gentle wind-down in register. In the second, image fragments in the text are set with winding, interwoven melodies amid an accompaniment of flowing parallel intervals.

The piece ends with a kind of subterranean waltz, drifting away as gradually as it begins. To view the score, see link to Santa Barbara Music Publishing.

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