Choral SATB Choir and
Piano
SKU:
PR.312418780
No. 2
From Second April.
Composed by Eric Ewazen.
Fold. Performance Score.
Theodore Presser Company
#312-41878. Published by
Theodore Presser Company
(PR.312418780).
ISBN
9781491138137. UPC:
680160640201. Second
April, by Edna St.
Vincent
Millay.
Second
April for S.A.T.B. Chorus
and Piano is a
four-movement set, based
on the poetry of Edna St.
Vincent Millay. Ewazen
has long been enamored
with her poetry's
wonderfully vivid and
descriptive imagery of
nature and emotions, and
its powerful and profound
meaning. The second
movement, MARIPOSA
celebrates nature,
wandering through a field
of white and blue
butterflies appearing
wondrously, with rich
chords and arpeggios. Yet
also stepping back, the
fleeting nature of life
is the reality, with
gentle, somber chords
interspersed with the
magical flight of the
Mariposa.
Program
Notes by Eric
EwazenSECOND APRIL for
S.A.T.B. Chorus and Piano
is a four-movement set,
based on the poetry of
Edna St. Vincent Millay.
I have long been enamored
with the poetry of Millay
for its wonderfully vivid
and descriptive imagery,
and its often powerful
and profound meaning.
Millay’s descriptions
of nature, and of
feelings and emotions,
have always spoken to me.
SECOND APRIL consists of
four of her poems, each
with a distinctive mood,
message, and emotional
feel. They are vivid,
powerful, and beautiful,
inspiring me to capture
these descriptions of the
various scenes she
portrays. Song of a
Second April uses music
to underlie strong
feelings, passions, and
the tragedies of life.
The poem itself is
dramatic, detailing a
time of personal strife
and tragedy, perhaps the
end of a relationship or
even the end of a life.
The music is intense,
fast, in a minor key, and
with rapid, spinning
notes creating a feeling
of powerful, relentless
emotions. Melodies,
motives, and gestures are
tossed between the
voices, increasing the
feelings of intensity and
even desperation. Little
by little, the music
almost dies away, getting
quieter and quieter,
creating a feeling of
resignation, but with a
Picardy Third in the
final chord – maybe a
bit of hope! Mariposa
is a celebration of
nature, wandering through
a field with white and
blue butterflies
appearing almost
wondrously. But there’s
also a profound feeling
of poignancy, noting that
as one relishes such a
beautiful, magical sight,
they should embrace the
experience – the
fleeting, transient
nature of such a perfect
vision and of life
itself. The music
portrays the flying of
the butterflies: gentle,
beautiful, with rich
chords and arpeggios, but
stepping back, as the
fleeting nature of life
is the reality, with
gentle, but sombre chords
interspersed with the
magical flight of the
Mariposa.Alms is a fast
rondo, intense, bold, and
always dance-like. It is
about both tragedy and
resilience. This music is
also in minor, yet with
moments of playfulness,
as a recollection of
happy times or moments
takes over. This seesaw
between emotions is heard
throughout the movement,
as the music continues to
“dance.” And with
Millay’s summing up of
“reality being what it
is,” the piece ends
with strength, boldness,
and finality. Into the
Golden Vessel of Great
Song is an appassionato
call to overcome! The
poem exhorts us to
“sing out” with hope,
determination, and
strength. The music is
full of bright and
lilting energy; but as
the turmoil and times of
strife people can
sometimes feel or
experience, the music
becomes intense,
dramatic, in a minor key,
and with changing
rhythms. BUT, there is a
return to championing the
idea of simply
overcoming, going forward
with hope and
determination, and the
music is in major,
resonant and strong.
.
Mood Ring
