Composer | Librettist | Artist
Written for American Opera Projects Composers & the Voice fellowship. The questions in this “found text” song were generated by Google search autocomplete, compiled from phrases that people are really searching online. Continue reading “What If? (2015)”
Written for American Opera Projects Composers & the Voice fellowship. Text by Edward Einhorn. Continue reading “Bury Me (2015)”
Written for American Opera Projects Composers & the Voice fellowship. While working and living in Yosemite National Park during the late 19th century, the preservationist and naturalist John Muir (1838-1914) wrote many letters to his mentor, Jeanne Carr. These letters form the basis of this song’s text. Continue reading “Dear Mrs. Carr (2015)”
A dramatic work in one act with libretto by Nell Shaw Cohen based on the writings and paintings of Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967). Continue reading “The Coming of Spring (2014)”
Recording courtesy of SACRA/PROFANA.
A choral setting of text adapted from an essay by John Muir about Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park.
Performance score available for purchase. Please direct inquiries to Nell Shaw Cohen at nell@nellshawcohen.com.
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There lay the grassy, flowery lawn,
three fourths of a mile long,
smoothly outspread,
basking in mellow autumn light.
Then up spring the mighty walls of verdure
three hundred feet high,
the brown fluted pillars so thick and tall and strong
they seem fit to uphold the sky.
And as I gazed, every color seemed to deepen and glow
while every tree seemed religious
and conscious of the presence of God, of God.
A free man revels in a scene like this and time goes by unmeasured.
Adapted by Nell Shaw Cohen from “Our National Parks” (1901) by John Muir.
Art song setting of a poem by Stevie Smith. Commissioned by WordSong. Continue reading “I Like to Play with Him (2011)”