To a Solitary Disciple
for soprano and chamber ensemble (2011)
Part 2 (excerpt):
Color Field Ensemble: Amanda DeBoer Bartlett – soprano, Spencer Prewitt – clarinet, James Fusik – tenor saxophone, Karl Larson – piano, Jeff Weston – bass, Mark Cook – percussion
complete, attacca performance posted below
Text:
Williams, William Carlos. "To a Solitary Disciple." A Book of Poems: Al Que Quiere! Boston: Four Seas, 1917. 67-68.
[divided into three parts by the composer]
Part 1
Rather notice, mon cher,
that the moon is
tilted above
the point of the steeple
than that its color
is shell-pink.
Rather observe
that it is early morning
than that the sky
is smooth
as a turquoise.
Rather grasp
how the dark
converging lines
of the steeple
meet at the pinnacle—
perceive how
its little ornament
tries to stop them—
See how it fails!
See how the converging lines
of the hexagonal spire
escape upward—
receding, dividing!
—sepals
that guard and contain
the flower!
Part 2
Observe
how motionless
the eaten moon
lies in the protecting lines.
Part 3
It is true:
in the light colors
of morning
brown-stone and slate
shine orange and dark blue.
But observe
the oppressive weight
of the squat edifice!
Observe
the jasmine lightness
of the moon.
complete, 3-part performance, attacca: