
The New E.E. Cummings Settings (With Video!)
July 1, 2009Charles Anthony Silvestri’s beautiful new bride, Pam, hid in the hall of Avery Fisher and captured the dress rehearsal of the June 28 concert. She used the new iPhone (3g s), which did a pretty decent job of capturing the sound and video from such a distance (and low light).
These performances are a little rough around the edges – we nailed them during the concert – but I think they nicely capture the spirit.
Here is the moon is hiding in her hair:
And here is i walked the boulevard:
And here are the texts:
the moon is hiding in her hair
the moon is hiding in
her hair.
The
lily
of heaven
full of all dreams,
draws down.
cover her briefness in singing
close her with intricate faint birds
by daisies and twilights
Deepen her,
Recite
upon her
flesh
the rain’s
pearls singly-whispering.
E.E. Cummings
**********************************************
i walked the boulevard
i walked the boulevard
i saw a dirty child
skating on noisy wheels of joy
pathetic dress fluttering
behind her a mothermonster
with red grumbling face
cluttered in pursuit
pleasantly elephantine
while nearby the father
a thick cheerful man
with majestic bulbous lips
and forlorn piggish hands
joked to a girlish bore
with busy rhythmic mouth
and silly purple eyelids
of how she was with child
E.E. Cummings
These are so cool! Thanks so much for letting us get a glimpse of them, instead of having to wait however knows long until something professional is released. They’re super creative, and definitely unlike a lot of what you normally put out. Well done
I was in this performance, and I have to say that the new pieces were very fun to sing! And it was great getting to work with you too. Everyone loved you, and your amazing personality. Thank you so much for writing all of your wonderful music, and thank you for conducting us on Sunday!!
JKDHSAFGskdsahfgkdsg these are fantastic!
and remarkably different than your more well-known pieces. “i walked the boulevard” has a ferocity that I can only really compare to “Animal Crackers”, and “the moon is hiding in her hair is remarkably sensitive.
I find the fact that they’re accompanied quite interesting, as the majority of your previous works for choir have been a’cappella obviously.
I have to say that I genuinely loved the accompaniment on “i walked the boulevard”.
Interesting, I look forward to more recordings of this, and we can all thank Mrs. Silvestri for these preliminary recordings!
Absolutely brilliant!!! I loved performing these! Thank you so much for writing and having them recorded.
I loved them both.. I am still in the process of getting all of your choral works for my library… How exciting
I liked I Walked The Boulevard the most. ESPECIALLY when the women slide up on those notes at 00:56 – 00:57! And the ending definately gave me goosebumps!!!
I loved both of these! If only I could see them live <:0(
Nice job!
Wow! Amazing! Absolutely! These two songs are just pleasure for my ears! I hope to see them released soon, and I hope I’ll have the chance to hear them live! I liked the most the moon is hiding in her hair, it’s just magnificient. Bravo!
I am so blessed to have been a part of this amazing experience…
The two new songs are BRILLIANT!
(and hey we sound pretty good!)
<3
I cannot find words to describe how much I love them. I thought, “If these are even half as beautiful as little tree, I’ll be thrilled.”
“Thrilled” doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of how wonderful I think they are.
singing in this choir, under your direction was the highlight of my musical career thus far. working with you was the most inspiring experience. as a conductor/educator, i hope to create magic and reveal beauty like you are able to do so naturally. “the moon is hiding in her hair” is so delicate and serene…i was able to feel that exact way while singing it. it was a wash of calm. i absolutely loved it.
and i think we could all agree that you were too hard on yourself when it came to conducting. everything was crystal clear and fluid. i’d take conducting lessons from you in a heartbeat!
i cannot express how much of an impact your music continues to make on my life…instead, i just let your music speak for itself.
I was at this concert and when I heard these two new short pieces were being performed I was even more excited for the concert and as I expected I was not disappointed. These two pieces were absolute genius. As was the rest of the concert. After I liked both pieces equally. I remember at the end of Cloudburst my girlfriend told me “he’s a genius.” I was like that’s an understatement. I strive to be an amazing composer someday. Thank you for the wonderful concert.
ahh!! I’m so excited! I got to be in this choir. I’ve been singing “I walked the boulevard” endlessly since I’ve come back. I’m so glad that there’s something that I can actually listen to!!!
I just have to say that I absolutely LOVE the ending of “i walked the boulevard”. I also loved the Youtube username the videos were posted under (“TeamPlitWhit”!).
I was in the choir and I can say 1st hand that these new pieces are incredibly fun to sing! Thank you for writing them. I can’t wait to hear what the cycle will sound like when completed! Congratulations!
Hey! I need your help!
I’m doing this YouTube project where I’m singing ‘A Boy and A Girl’ by myself and I have some of the sheet music to it but I don’t have the page for ‘Giving silence, for silence’. I tried listening for the pitches by ear but could only hear the Soprano, Alto and Bass part. My question is: What is the pitch for the Tenor? Or better yet, what are the chords for each word?
I REALLY want to get this learned and get it correctly and post it on YouTube but I’m having issues doing so.
If you could help me or if you have an answer, PLEASE email me at: PhantomofOperafan09@msn.com (weird I know lol).
Thank you so much for reading this comment if you do! Have a nice day
Take care
Bye!
Had a chance to catch you at DCINY… the concert was brilliant, and my students and I had such a fantastic time. I did “A Boy and a Girl” with them, and when I told them you’d be there, they begged me to take them and I was happy to! We adored the concert, my kids adore YOU, and the asked me to ask you: When will Animal Crackers vol. 2 be available for purchase? We’d like to do Vol. 1 & 2 as a set (the sopranos especially enjoyed “The Canary”).
Thanks so much!
YEAH! that’s awesome
I had so much fun getting to work with you in New York, and it was such a privelege to perform your music! (especially from the front row haha.) Thanks again for giving me that opportunity!
Hi
I want to produce and promote new opera works (or music-theatre if ‘opera’ is too loaded) in the UK, where I feel our big houses are not doing enough to support composers, singers and new works.
I typed in opera electronica 2 hours ago and it took me on a journey starting at your Paradise Lost, then to see you’ve just been working with our National Youth Choir (hurray) then to your moving and beautiful virtual choir.
Is Paradise Lost coming to the UK? And where can I listen to a full recording or at least sustained excerpts? Your trailer (smartly) has no singing.
I am really keen to get University College Opera (I am UCL alumni) to produce new works rather than revive the old, but works that speak to our contemporary audiences, are profound, exciting and thrilling rather than esoteric, atonal and too cerebral.
Also, do you know Paul Gladstone Reid, who is writing the first Jamaican Patois opera, and is creating the anime storyboards at the moment as precursers to the opera?
Gorgeous music – I’m inspired
Fi, London UK