Score
Winter's Journey : for female vocal trio SSA / music by May Lyon ; lyrics by Bruce Leeming.
Library shelf no. 783.136542/MAY 1 [Available for loan]
Work Overview
Winter's Journey was commissioned by Icon Trio as part of a larger project to set the haikus of Scottish poet Bruce Leeming to music. Each composer was asked to write a set of 2-4 miniatures. I chose the three haikus for Winter's Journey to tell a tale of friends waiting for the end of Winter, represented by two jovial night-time interactions and a beautiful icy evening.
This trio explores a variety of vocal techniques, from the quirky and percussive to the beautiful and melodious. It also interprets the haiku style, where the final line contrasts with the first two in several different ways. As each haiku was written in Scots with English translations, that are also haikus, each movement uses both languages. Movements I and III use English for the first two lines, and Scots for the final. Movement II gives the English text to Soprano 1 and Alto, and Scots to Soprano 2. In all movements the final line is treated differently, either contrasting in duration, texture and/or mood.
Work Details
Year: 2013
Instrumentation: 2 Sopranos, alto.
Duration: 7 min.
Difficulty: Advanced — Extended techniques and complex rhythms
Commission note: Commissioned by Icon Trio.
The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc in relation to this work:
Vocal trio, haiku, Scots, a cappella
Performances of this work
13 Oct 13: "Laverocks Tweedlin’ – Scots Haiku" at The Early Music Studio, The University of Melbourne. Featuring Icon Trio.
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