Specks of Earth, Andrew Steffen | Dallas Chamber Choir

Описание: "[Andrew Steffen's] 'Specks of Earth' is an 11-minute setting of the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore across nine movements. They range in tone and texture, from dramatic, fluttery word-painting in the opening 'Stray Birds' to the intoxicating soundscaping achieved in the eighth movement 'Fields,' which involves synchronized inhales and exhales in the choir over comfortably tense chords in the piano, which Jordan Peek executed thoughtfully."
--Richard Oliver, TheaterJones

Specks of Earth (2017), Andrew Steffen, composer (Live)

Julia Durbin, soprano
Rachel Jones, soprano

Jordan Peek, piano
Kelly Shea, flute

Dallas Chamber Choir, "Walden: Nature Speaks" concert series
Jon L. Culpepper, Founding Artistic Director & Conductor

Video: Tony Antoneo Hernandez
Audio: Bradley Prakope, Daniel Nix

Specks of Earth [from "Stray Birds" by Rabindranath Tagore, 1861-1941]

I. Stray Birds
Stray birds of summer come to my window to sing and fly
away.
And yellow leaves of autumn, which have no songs, flutter
and fall there, fall there with a sigh.

II. The Desert
The mighty desert is burning for the love of a blade of grass
who shakes her head and laughs, flies away.

III. O Sea, O Sky
“What language is thine, O sea?”
“What language is thy answer, O sky?”
“The language of eternal silence.”

IV. Leaves
“We, the rustling leaves, have a voice that answers the
storms.
But who are you so silent?”
“I am a mere flower.”

V. O Moon
“Moon, O moon, for what do you wait?”
“To salute the sun for whom I must make way.”

VI. The Stars
The stars are not afraid to appear like fireflies.

VII. Shadow
Shadow, with her veil drawn, follows Light in secret
meekness,
O, with her silent steps of love.

VIII. Fields

IX. Love
Lead me in the center of thy silence
To fill my heart with songs.
Lead me in the center of thy silence.
Let this be my last word, that I trust in thy love.