Choral works

Echo describes a woman who struggles to accept that her loved one is dead and has resolved to hold on to their memory no matter how painful. This poem is particularly poignant for me as I instantly recognized the parallels between Rossetti's character and my great-grandfather who was the one left behind when his wife of almost 70 years passed away in 2004. He was a strong man but his typically sunny disposition became much more sombre. He was reunited with his wife four years later. In the years after his death, I often wondered what that time apart must have felt like having spent most of their lives together. The moment I read this poem I knew I had to set it to music. I did so in order to invite everyone to imagine a love that transcends death yet cripples when the inevitable occurs.

I have also written a companion piece for Echo entitled Remember for men's chorus. The poetry for both Echo and Remember were written by Christina Rossetti.

Performed by the Clark College Concert Choir 6/13/14

©2011

Echo for SSAA choir

Poetry by Mary Elizabeth Frye

Performed by the Clark College Women's Choral Ensemble under the direction of April Brookins Duvic at Marylhurst University on June 9, 2012.

I apologize for the poor recording quality...

©2012

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep for SSAA choir

Performed on July 2, 2013 by the American Creators Chorus under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson.

Written for the 2013 Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium.


PROJECT : ENCORE™ has found this work to be of exceptional merit.  Its panel of internationally know conductors has selected the work for inclusion in its database of recommended choral music.  - www.projectencore.org

Semi-finalist for for the 2014 American Prize in choral composition.

(I recommend headphones to get the full effect.)

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I Shall Not Care 
by Sara Teasdale
             -

When I am dead and over me bright April
     Shakes out her rain-drenched hair,
Tho' you should lean above me broken-hearted,
     I shall not care.

I shall have peace, as leafy trees are peaceful
     When rain bends down the bough,
And I shall be more silent and cold-hearted
     Than you are now.


I Shall Not Care for SSATTB choir

Performed December 6, 2013 by the Clark College Concert Choir under the direction of April Brookins Duvic.

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Богородице дѣво, радѹйсѧ,
Благодатнаѧ Марїе,
Господь съ тобою:
благословена Ты въ женахъ,
и благословенъ плодъ чрева Твоегѡ;
якѡ Спаса родила еси дѹшъ нашихъ.
-

Bogoroditse Devo, raduisya,
Blagodatnaya Marie,
Gospod s' toboyu:
Blagoslovyena tyh v' zhenakh,
Y blagoslovyen plod chreva Tvoyego,
yako Spasa rodila yesi dush nashikh.
-

Theotokos Virgin, rejoice,
Mary full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.

Bogoroditse Devo for mixed choir

Remember is a message sent by a man who has recently died to his widow who is miserable with grief. In it, he says, "Better by far that you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad." This poem is particularly poignant for me having witnessed my great-grandfather lose his wife of almost 70 years in 2004. He was a strong man but his typically sunny disposition became much more sombre. He was reunited with his wife four years later. In the years after his death, I often wondered what that time apart must have felt like having spent most of their lives together. Also, I wondered what my great-grandmother would have told her husband during that time having known that he was suffering. I'd like to think that she would say something like what is conveyed in Remember; something selfless, genuine, and full of love.

I have also written a companion piece for Remember entitled Echo for women's chorus. It is best described as the widow's plea for her husband to visit her in dreams. The poetry for both Echo and Remember were written by Christina Rossetti.

©2014

Remember for TTBB choir

Written for the American Creators Chorus (dir. by Craig Hella Johnson) at the 2014 Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium.

Performed June 10, 2016 by a small group from the Clark College Chorale (dir. April Brookins Duvic)and directed by Brandon Stewart.

VVVVV

"mi amor descubre objetos" by Isabel Fraire
.

mi amor descubre objetos 
sedosas mariposas 
se ocultan en sus dedos 

sus palabras 
me salpican de estrellas 

bajo los dedos de mi amor la noche 
brilla como relámpago 

mi amor inventa mundos en que habitan 
serpientes cuajadas de brillantes 

mundos en que la música es el mundo 

mundos en que las casas con los ojos abiertos 
contemplan el amanecer 

mi amor es un loco girasol que olvida 
pedazos de sol en el silencio
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"my love reveals objects" by Isabel Fraire
.

my love reveals objects
silken butterflies
concealed in his fingers

his words
splash me with stars

under my love's fingers, the night
shines like lightning

my love invents worlds where
jeweled glittering serpents live

worlds in which music is the world

worlds where houses with open eyes
contemplate the dawn

my love is a mad sunflower that forgets
fragments of sun in the silence
---

More poetry written by this amazing poet can be found at isabelfraire.com

"mi amor descubre objetos" for mixed choir

Completed May 2016.
Still awaiting a premiere.

This is my response to the Gesualdo and Monteverdi settings of the same 16th century text.  I felt their settings needed more burns and wounds so mine has those in abundance.

Poetry by Ridolfo Arlotti (1546 - 1613)

Luci serene e chiare,
Voi m'incendete, voi, ma prova il core
Nell'incendio diletto, non dolore.

Dolci parole e care,
Voi mi ferite, voi, ma prova il petto
Non dolor nella piaga, ma diletto.

O miracol d'Amore!
Alma che è tutta foco e tutta sangue
Si strugge e non si duol, more e non langue.

--- English translation ---

Eyes serene and clear 
you burn me, but the heart 
finds pleasure, not sorrow, in the fire. 

Words sweet and dear, 
you wound me, but my breast 
finds pleasure, not sorrow, in the wound. 

O miracle of love! 
The soul that is all fire and blood 
destroys itself, grieves not, dies without languishing.

Luci serene e chiare for SATTB choir (midi realization)

This piece was written in honor of April Brookins Duvic on the occasion of her retirement after having taught, and later directed, vocal studies at Clark College for over 25 years.  Her wisdom and guidance has enriched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of students thoughout her career.  It was obvious that this occasion required a gift befitting the honoree and reflected the gift she gave so many; the gift of song.

The poetry I chose to set in this piece perfectly encapsulates how April has positively affected the lives of her students.  Everyone I have spoken with has their own unforgettable moment in which April brightened a particularly gloomy day or said something which changed them forever.  It was the ambiguity inherent in the poem which enticed me the most as it can relate to each performer and each listener in the same way as they each reflect on their own personal moments.

Poetry by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Gratitude for mixed choir and piano (midi realization)

A setting of Sara Teasdale's "Alone".
---
I am alone, in spite of love,
In spite of all I take and give—
In spite of all your tenderness,
Sometimes I am not glad to live.

I am alone, as though I stood
On the highest peak of the tired gray world,
About me only swirling snow,
Above me, endless space unfurled;

With earth hidden and heaven hidden,
And only my own spirit's pride
To keep me from the peace of those
Who are not lonely, having died. 
---
Premiered by Resonance Ensemble in October 2019

ALONE for mixed choir and piano (live)

" ...simultaneously innovative, intellectually stimulating, but most of all emotionally moving." - Maria Choban, Oregon ArtsWatch