Choral Cello, Piano, SATB
chorus
SKU:
CF.CM9714
Composed by
Z. Randall Stroope. 16
pages. Duration 4
minutes, 48 seconds. Carl
Fischer Music #CM9714.
Published by Carl Fischer
Music (CF.CM9714).
ISBN 9781491160329.
UPC: 680160918904. Key: F
major. English. Robert
Frost.
About the
work ... Few American
poems are as well known
as The Road Not Taken.
Robert Frost, the author,
is an international icon,
not unlike Pablo Picasso,
Winston Churchill or Mark
Twain in their own
disciplines.The poem is
full of contradictions
and quirks of form and
structure. Perhaps that
illusiveness is part of
the poem's intrigue. But
beyond all of the
literary devices that
only a few scholars may
fully appreciate, this
poem has taken on a sort
of fanfare for the common
person credo - a
challenge to
individualism, stepping
out on one's own, and
breaking the mold out of
sheer determination if
nothing else. Frost
connects to the core of
the human spirit in just
a few stanzas using the
analogy of a fork in a
road. The message super
cedes geography, culture,
race or creed. Rather, it
is part of the DNA of
most every person on the
planet - the inner desire
to feel empowered to
create one's own destiny,
to forge a road not
taken, and ultimately in
doing so, to make a
difference. Rehearsal
notes ... Research
strongly suggests that
there is a direct
connection between the
first rehearsal and the
performance. First
impressions last. I find
it helpful to immediately
lock three concepts into
place - mechanics
(notes/rhythms),
text/phrasing (intent and
motivation) and color
(timbre). Performers need
to think musically from
the first reading forward
(first impression). The
cello is very much a
collaborative instrument
in this work, and should
be located in front of
the ensemble (not to
side). Lastly, let the
text speak. The simplest
melodic lines are often
the most exposed. Keep
the voices clear and
transparent, floating
over the top in softer
passages, and singing
with vibrancy and forward
focus throughout. Z.
Randall Stroope A
definitive recording was
made by the New American
Voices, with Randall
conducting. This can be
found on Spotify,
YouTube, his website
(www.zrstroope), and
other social media. About
the composer ... Z.
Randall Stroope is an
American composer and
conductor. His
composition teachers were
Normand Lockwood and
Cecil Effinger, both
students of the Nadia
Boulanger, the famous
French teacher (and
student of Gabriel
Faure). He is the
artistic director of two
international summer
music festivals, is an
Honorary Member of the
National Association of
Italian Choral Directors,
and has conducted in 25
countries. He has
directed over 40 times at
Carnegie Hall, and is a
frequent conductor at
other prestigious concert
venues. Randall has 190
published works, and his
music can be heard on
Spotify, YouTube and
other platforms,
including his website
(www.zrstroope.com).
A
bout the work ...Few
American poems are as
well known as The Road
Not Taken. Robert Frost,
the author, is an
international icon, not
unlike Pablo Picasso,
Winston Churchill or Mark
Twain in their own
disciplines.The poem is
full of contradictions
and quirks of form and
structure. Perhaps that
illusiveness is part of
the poem's intrigue. But
beyond all of the
literary devices that
only a few scholars may
fully appreciate, this
poem has taken on a sort
of fanfare for the common
person credo - a
challenge to
individualism, stepping
out on one's own, and
breaking the mold out of
sheer determination if
nothing else. Frost
connects to the core of
the human spirit in just
a few stanzas using the
analogy of a fork in a
road. The message super
cedes geography, culture,
race or creed. Rather, it
is part of the DNA of
most every person on the
planet - the inner desire
to feel empowered to
create one's own destiny,
to forge a road not
taken, and ultimately in
doing so, to make a
difference.Rehearsal
notes ...Research
strongly suggests that
there is a direct
connection between the
first rehearsal and the
performance. First
impressions last. I find
it helpful to immediately
lock three concepts into
place - mechanics
(notes/rhythms),
text/phrasing (intent and
motivation) and color
(timbre). Performers need
to think musically from
the first reading forward
(first impression). The
cello is very much a
collaborative instrument
in this work, and should
be located in front of
the ensemble (not to
side). Lastly, let the
text speak. The simplest
melodic lines are often
the most exposed. Keep
the voices clear and
transparent, floating
over the top in softer
passages, and singing
with vibrancy and forward
focus throughout.Z.
Randall StroopeA
definitive recording was
made by the New American
Voices, with Randall
conducting. This can be
found on Spotify,
YouTube, his website
(www.zrstroope), and
other social media.About
the composer ...Z.
Randall Stroope is an
American composer and
conductor. His
composition teachers were
Normand Lockwood and
Cecil Effinger, both
students of the Nadia
Boulanger, the famous
French teacher (and
student of Gabriel
FaureÌ). He is the
artistic director of two
international summer
music festivals, is an
Honorary Member of the
National Association of
Italian Choral Directors,
and has conducted in 25
countries. He has
directed over 40 times at
Carnegie Hall, and is a
frequent conductor at
other prestigious concert
venues. Randall has 190
published works, and his
music can be heard on
Spotify, YouTube and
other platforms,
including his website
(www.zrstroope.com).
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