This finale takes the song in new directions. Briefly quoted is the final dance from "The Rite of Spring," which PIerre Boulez called "The Birth Certificate." I quote it in relation to the dream discussed in the program notes on Mov. I

The work comes to a decisive conclusion.

***
Chiu-Chen Liu Is the gifted violist and painter allowing me to use her visual works on my album covers.

Quintet For Bassoon & Strings No. 2 (2023) Mov. III

This piece is a gift to Beth, my dear wife of 34 years... we'll toast with Prosecco to the next 34!

For Beth On Valentine's Day

This is a lyrical and exciting concerto.

It was written for Richard Titone. It is also a tribute to the work of John Barnes Chance whose life ended far too soon.

Educational opportunities include syncopation, individual phrasing, articulations and dynamics. There are also technical passages, especially in flute and percussion parts.

Concerto For Trumpet & Symphonic Band Mov. I

This work features solo bassoon accompanied by concert band at approximatel NYSSMA Level 3. It has educational opportunities in terms of individual phrasing, accents, dynamics and tempo changes.

Flute  & percussion parts are more challenging than the others. In my. experience, they sometimes want more of a challenge.

Solo and band parts, music minus one recording and score can be purchased by emailing KennethLiebersonMusic@hotmail.com

The 3rd Core

This sonata was written for violist, Chiu-Chen Liu. She is also a gifted visual artist.

Here in my dedication:

"Because you are a visual artist and violist who likes Hindemith, the first movement is based on the first phrase of his 'Mathias the Painter.'"

Because your sense of color is so vibrant, the second movement is based on a bar from one of the most colorful works, Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Scheherazade.'

The final movement is based on "The Great Gate of Kiev" from Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition." This is also meant to support Ukraine in this terrible time of Russian aggression.

Viola Sonata No. 2 Mov. I

Setting the stage...
Soundscape No 2 (Composer's Spoken Intro, Part 1 of 2)

Soundscape No 2 (Composer's Spoken Intro, Part 1 of 2)

A lyrical piece written to play with composers Bruce Lazarus & Daniel Burwasser. We each wrote a short work for this get-together.

Bassoon with drum set & piano creates possibilities for refreshing textures.

Amigo Trio No. 2

Harris helps new parents
Harris helps with good, affordable housing, groceries, gas, 
health insurance and medicines. 
Harris protects the rights of women and minorities;
fights to protect Medicare and Social Security. 

Harris helps small businesses, honoring truth, law and order... with compassion, understanding and joy. 

The other guy:
Oh,
I've got 
Concepts of a 
Plan

Oh, he’s got plenty of nothing…
Yep, Trump's got plenty of...


Harris is 
Stronger, smarter, tougher, more caring, more capable.
The Harris/Waltz plans help all of us.

Harris helps.

Lieberson, K A Harris Helps MxD

"Swamp Lake" is mini-ballet No. 3 in the triptych:
"Performers in Search of an Audience."

This 10 minute, 21 second work is scored for:
Oboe
Bassoon
Horn in F
Trumpets in B 1, 2, 3
Drum Set
String Bass
Piano
Viola
Cello 
*****

"My warning meant nothing
You're dancing in quicksand." 

"Swamp Song" by Tool from their 1993 album Undertow
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_Song 

*****
"Swamp Lake" is based on:
- A theme from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake 
- The hook from "Proud Mary," by John Foggerty
- The drum part from "A Day of Love," from this triptych.
- The first five notes from "What the World Needs Now," Music by Burt Bacharach, Lyrics by Hal David. 

""Proud Mary signifying a persistent, unstoppable energy and a refusal to slow down or be subdued, often interpreted as a metaphor for overcoming challenges and embracing a new, vibrant life path, much like the riverboat "Proud Mary" constantly moving forward." 
 AI Overview

*****
The title was suggested by conductor Claude Lévy.

*****
Photo by Henning Roettger: https://www.pexels.com/photo/shallow-focus-photo-of-crocodile-on-body-of-water-2100047/



Swamp Lake

Inspired by Brahms, Verdi & Mozart, this requiem seeks to comfort the living as well as honor the departed loved ones. 

********


Before music begins,
Narrator:

And Anton said: (1)
He is such a good man
And yet, he believes in nothing.

Chorus:

From Brahms:
Matthew 5:4	
(German)
Selig sind, die da Leid tragen, denn sie sollen getröstet werden.	

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.

From Verdi:  
Libera me.

KL: 
My grief knows no bounds, nor my rage.
Why did they die?
Why?!

Psalm 126:5,6:	
Die mit Tränen säen, werden mit Freuden ernten.
Sie gehen hin und weinen und tragen edlen Samen, 
und kommen mit Freuden und bringen ihre Garben.	

Behold!
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, 
shall  rejoice, bringing his sheaves with him.


From Mozart: (Latin)
Requiem aeternam dona eis,
Grant them eternal rest, 

et lux perpetua luceat eis.
and let perpetual light shine on them.

Proverbs (10:7)
Hebrew:
Yehi zchram levarka
May their memory be a blessing.

Yitgadal v'yitkaddah sh'meih raba.
May our lives reflec the greatness of sparks within the process of creation.
May the world be ruled by our highest aspirations,
soon, in our lifetimes.
And let us say, Amen.�

_________


((1) Antonín Leopold Dvořák and Johannes Brahms were good friends.
While Brahms was an atheist, 
Dvořák was devout. He lamented thathis friend had no religious beliefs. 

I begin with this quote to remind us that one can be a good man while 
not being religious in the traditional sense.

When I think of Antonín's feeling, I am moved by his caring about Johannes.
It is touching... and to me, brings a sad little smile that 
Dvořak had trouble seeing that this was not a contradiction. 
Sad, because there are always people who have trouble recognizing the
good in others whose beliefs differ from theirs. It brings that wry smile, and
a furrowed brow becasue this has always been true�

A Human Requiem Mov. I (Grief, Rage, Requiem)

Kenneth Lieberson is a composer of symphonies, concertos, ballets, cantatas, tone poems, opera, chamber music, songs. His music has been heard on National Public Radio, at The Library of Congress, Lincoln Center, Queens College, NYU, Stony Brook, CAMI Hall, Merkin Hall and at high and middle schools. His B. M. and M. M. are from Juilliard. He also earned an M.B.A. at NYU's Stern School of Business.

Mr. Lieberson has also written two novellas, dozens of short stories and hundreds of poems.  He illustrated some of these.

Swamp Lake

Kenneth Lieberson

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