Three Summers Heat
Judith Shatin
About this work:
Three Summers Heat , for Mezzo or Soprano, flute, viola and harp, was commissioned by the Azure Ensemble and they premiered it at the Thalia Theatre in 2005. It is a recasting of the version for singer and electronics. It was inspired by the sultry seasonal poetry of Tzu Weh, a fifth century Chinese poet. Her images of summer and of the stages of romantic relationships are brief but telling. Each of the seven poems focuses on a particular mood which I have tried to amplify through the shape of the vocal line, the development of particular electronic timbres, and the relationship between the two. The third song, for example, sings of rowing a boat on Rose Hibiscus Lake on a hot summer day. The electronic accompaniment shimmers like a mirage, with occasional sonic drops splashing into the pool.
The English translations, by Lenore Mayhew and William McNaughton, are used with permission from the Charles E. Tuttle Company.
Version: Chamber Version
Year composed: 2005
Duration: 00:19:00
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Voice with Chamber/Jazz Ensemble, 2-5 Players
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Viola, 1 Harp, 1 Mezzo-Soprano