Tear on a Child's Cheek
Sally Reid
About this work:
Tear on a Child's Cheek is a set of five haiku for mezzo-soprano and piano (there is also a soprano version). The texts were written by Joy Shieman of Los Altos, California (used by permission) and were published by Charles Tuttle Co. in Borrowed Water: a book of American haiku in 1966.
The haiku is a Japanese poetic form composed of seventeen syllables. These musical settings are likewise brief and focused. Although characterized by many major sevenths, tritones and quartal harmonies, the settings remain quite tonal. The melodic line is approachablle and suitable for a college student vocallist. "Children" is the theme of the set.
Tear on a Child's Cheek
texts by Joy Shieman
I. Low Shadow-Leaf
II. Tear on a Child's Cheek
III. The Old Circus Clown
IV. Christmas Melts Slowly
V. From Whence Butterflies?
Version: mezzo-soprano
Year composed: 1987
Duration: 00:05:00
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Solo Voice with Keyboard
Instrumentation: 1 Piano, 1 Mezzo-Soprano
Instrumentation notes: mezzo-soprano and piano