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Composer: Alan Taylor Title: Four Unwritten Love Songs Instrumentation: String quartet, clarinet quartet, or various mixed ensembles. Duration: 8 minutes - 2 minutes each Difficulty: Easy to moderate MIDI Recordings: String Quartet First Song Second Song Third Song Fourth Song Clarinet quartet First Song Second Song Third Song Fourth Song Mixed group - flute and strings First Song Second Song Third Song Fourth Song Programme note: For some time I had wished to set to music a number of poems by the American writer, Raymond Carver. His life included years in a decaying marriage, worsened by his drinking. His wife eventually left him. He was told he had three months to live if he continued as he was. He stopped drinking, and to his astonishment found profound joy and happiness in his second marriage. After ten years he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. His last poems, written as he died, radiate his joy in those unanticipated years. I was unable to obtain permission on acceptable terms to set the four poems I had chosen to reflect these events of his life. So I wrote some music anyway. The subtitles of the four 'songs' are 'Decay', 'Deserted', 'Rediscovery', and 'Final Parting'. Technical Issues:Three of the songs are lyrical, and players should perform them as if singing. The first song is in the Locrian mode, the 'darkest' of the modes, the third in the Mixolydian, and the fourth in the Lydian - the 'brightest' mode. The second song is quite different in character, and should be performed very aggressively. The songs can be performed by a variety of chamber ensembles, including string or clarinet quartet, or any other suitable combination. They can also be performed by mixed ensemble, in which case do ask me for advice on instrumentation Availability: from Alan Taylor or from his SibeliusMusic home page where you can view, play, and print the score. |
Return to Alan Taylor's catalogue More on London Chamber Group Forum London Chamber Symphony Forum London Composers' Group South London Community Music 26th April 2001 |