Ancient Songs
David Liptak
About this work:
ANCIENT SONGS, for baritone voice with instrumental ensemble, is a setting of five texts that resonate with understanding that is instinctive and old. The idea for this selection of texts began to assert itself as I was reading parts of Jerome Rothenberg's Technicians of the Sacred (1968, 1985). This collection of translations of "primitive" poetry seemed to be in concord with musical impulses that reach beyond the civilizing influence of the Western tradition into myth, fancy, illusion, and 'wildness.' Two texts are translations found in Rothenberg's collection: "The Stars" and "Ghosts and Shadows." The remaining texts are "Aiken Drum," which is a setting of a traditional nursery rhyme, "Death Song," from the traditions of the Papua tribe of the American southwest, and "The Wreckage of the Moon," using a poem by the American poet James Wright. The piece was written for baritone William Sharp and the 20th-Century Consort, Christopher Kendall, conductor. ANCIENT SONGS is recorded by William Sharp and the Dinosaur Annex New Music Ensemble conducted by Scott Wheeler. The recording is on Bridge Records (Bridge 9167).
Published by Keiser Classical
Bridge Records 9176
Year composed: 1992
Duration: 00:22:00
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Voice with Chamber/Jazz Ensemble, 6-9 Players
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Clarinet, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 1 Violin, 1 Cello, 1 Baritone