The Divine Quotidian: Songs of Everyday Beauty

“Now is the night one blue dew, my father has drained, he has coiled the hose. Low on the length of lawns, a frailing of fire who breathes…” - James Agee (from Knoxville: Summer of 1915).

Art Etc explores the divine beauty hidden in everyday life, in this weaving of songs by Samuel Barber, Margaret Sutherland and Aaron Copland. Each of these 20th century composers embraced poetry that witnessed the sublime among ordinary quotidian existence, including poems by Emily Dickenson, Judith Wright and James Agee. Soprano Lisette Bolton, tenor Daniel Szesiong Todd and baritone Kiran Rajasingam will be joined by pianist Kevin Tamaninifor this afternoon of divine music.

Lisette Bolton – Soprano, Daniel Szesiong Todd – Tenor, Kiran Rajasingam – Baritone, Kevin Tamanini - Piano

 

Aaron Copland (1900-1990), texts by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

1. I - Nature the gentlest (Dan)

2. III - Why do they shut me (Lisette)

3. IV - The world feels dusty (Kiran)

4. V - Heart, we will (Lisette)

5. VI - Dear March (Lisette)

6. IX - I felt a funeral (Dan)

7. XII - The Chariot (Kiran)

 

Margaret Sutherland (1897-1984)

1. Tom O Bedlam - text anonymous (Kiran)

2. When kisses are as strawberries – text by John Shaw Neilson (Lisette)

3. May text by John Shaw Neilson (Dan)

4. They called her Fair – text by Esther Levy (Lisette)

 

Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Knoxville: Summer of 1915 – text by James Agee