Akhmatova Songs
Judith Shatin
About this work:
The composition of Akhmatova Songs was inspired by Stanley Kunitz’s translations of this poetry. However, I decided to set the poetry in the original Russian, with the assistance of my friend and colleague Sharon Leiter, whose own translation of the three poems accompanies the score. The Russian has its own particular rhythm, sonic contour and imagery, and I welcomed the opportunity to explore them.
The three poems I have grouped share themes of loss and transcendence, as does much of Akhmatova's poetry. Having lived from 1889-1966, Akhmatova’s creative years spanned many of the cataclysms that characterized what she called “the real twentieth century”. Her poems Requiem and Poem Without a Hero are two of her most eloquent responses.
The first poem, The Muse, concerns the gift of the muse, the tension and meaning of the creative process. The second, Evertyhing is Plundered, ponders terrible extremities, puts them in a larger perspective, and reflects on human resilience. The last, The Souls of All My Dears, is a poignant tribute to Akhmatova's own past, with her early years spent in Tsarskoye Selo where Pushkin had attended the Lyceum. Here, she sees her own place as a singer of poems.
In my musical setting, scored for mezzo, flute, clarinet, violin, and cello, I sought to embody elements of the poetry, with a tone of voice that ranges from velvet to violent. The harmonic language likewise reflects a range from consonant and warm, to austere and dissonant. Akhmatova Songs was commissioned and premiered by the Sistrum Ensemble at Strathmore Hall in Rockville, MD in 1986. It was recently recorded by Da Capo Chamber Players on Dreamtigers, a disk of my chamber music (Innova 613). For additional information, see www.judithshatin.com. Akhmatova Songs are published by Wendigo Music and distributed by MMB.
Version: Mz, fl, cl, vln, vc, pno
Year composed: 1982
Duration: 00:09:00
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Voice with Chamber/Jazz Ensemble, 2-5 Players
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Clarinet, 1 Piano, 1 Violin, 1 Cello, 1 Mezzo-Soprano
Instrumentation notes: Mz, fl, cl, vln, vc, pno