Voyages
Lawrence Moss
About this work:
"Voyages" is a setting of 6 poems by Walt Whitman for large chamber ensemble. It was written for famed baritone George Shirley, who has recorded it with the American Camerata under the direction of John Stephens. IThe recording has just been released by AmCam Recordings (ACR 10313).
In an earlier version the cycle had been called "Portals" after the second song. This word - and the song - seemed to me to sum up that awful moment - thrilling for Whitman - when we move from Life to Death. At the suggestion of Mr. Shirley, I expanded the cycle, realizing that for Whitman the massive Portals - the Scylla and Charybdis successfully navigated - were less meaningful than the passage itself, that "infinite free venture" of learning at last the secrets of the Universe, and in so doing, becoming part of creation. This, then, becomes (at least for Whitman) the true meaning and purpose of life...These are the true Voyages.
L.K.M.
Year composed: 1986
Duration: 00:14:00
Ensemble type: Solo instrument, non-keyboard
Instrumentation: