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Score
Cosmic Fire : Sagittarius Song, vocal duet, mezzo-soprano and baritone voice with piano / composer: Margaret Brandman ; lyrics: Benita Rainer.
Library shelf no. 783.12542/BRA 3 [Available for loan]
Score
Cosmic Fire : Sagittarius song / music: Margaret Brandman ; lyrics: Benita Rainer.
Version: This product features the SATB Choir with piano version of this work
Library shelf no. 782.5542/BRA 2 [Available for loan]
Display all products featuring this work (1 more) 
Work Overview
Cosmic Fire (Sagittarius song) is a contemporary art song is set for mezzo-soprano voice or
baritone voice. It is the ninth
song in Margaret Brandman's
Cosmic Wheel of the Zodiac
song sycle. The lyrics are by astrologer and
poet Benita Rainer who has artfully distilled the individual
characteristics of this star sign in her text:
"The third fire sign, Sagittarius gathers
all of the insights of the zodiac to date, and shoots its arrow
to land in the bullseye of Truth."
The
overarching key of this song is D Major although it modulates to
many keys through the journey of the song, taking the harmony and
melody a tone higher to E Major in the final bar to emphasise the
lyrics "higher and higher!" The time signature is 4/4 with a
flowing accompaniment using 16th notes. The tempo of
the song is moderate and the A section of the song begins quietly
setting the mood with the lyrics: "Shall
I show you the truth? Merge our vision with the
stars?"
Rising melodic phrases build
excitement as the central concept of the song is expressed in the
B Section: "Cosmic fire shooting higher than others dare
aspire."
After this the piano has a
four-bar arpeggiated solo extending to the higher registers of
the instrument. The bridge from bars 22-25 is slower in pace
complementing the contemplative lyrics of the section:
"Justice is a healing stream, sow the seeds of
knowledge glean'd."
In the final majestic section,
the piano accompaniment is more chordal creating a thicker
texture supporting the melody towards the climax of the work with
the lyrics: "Cosmic fire shooting higher than others dare
aspire, To where our souls belong.
Higher and higher!"
Work Details
Year: 2016
Instrumentation: Mezzo-soprano, baritone, piano.
Duration: 3 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Videos
Cosmic Fire |
Subjects
- In the form/style of: Song Cycles
Performances of this work
25 Jun 23: Balgowlah Uniting Church
18 Sep 2022: at Margaret Brandman: Highlights & Premieres (Mosman Art Gallery and Community Centre). Featuring Matthew Avery, Ayse Gӧknur Shanal, Margaret Brandman.
19 Aug 18: Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Centre, Harris St, Ultimo NSW. Featuring Désirée Regina, John Antoniou, Coro Austral.
14 Sep 17: Concert Hall in the Czech museum of music, Prague, Czech Republic . Featuring Matej Chadima, Petr Ožana, Barbora Polâšková.
3 Sep 16: Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium . Featuring Margaret Brandman, Martin Cooke.
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