Life Goes
Life Goes was generously commissioned by Eleanor Eisenmenger and 20th Century Unlimited. The piece explores the abstract and very expressive text by Lewis Alexander (1900-1945?) The poet was very interested in different forms of Japanese Poetry including Hokku, an earlier form of Haiku, organized into three lines of text creating a total of 17 syllables. Inspired by the interesting cross cultural implications of an African American Renaissance poet writing with Japanese formal structures in the 1920’s, I set about writing a piece celebrating differing cultural connections. The poetry of the blues has general similarities to haiku poems; verses of three lines, abstract lyrical expression, and a specific cultural identification. Musically, Life Goes uses different aspects of Blues expression. The piece does not use a blues progression in the tradition of W. C. Handy, but it does present musical material in a “bluesy” manner through the use of blue notes, the blues scales, and symbolic melodic blues gestures, or blues melodic syntax. Life Goes also utilizes musical devices from the Change ringing church bell tradition from England (tintinnatopia) and elements of Hip-Hop rhythmic distortions or embellishments.
Stylistically, the piece contains elements of modernism of the early 20th century and the avant-garde of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The piece in many ways is an homage to the twentieth century with musical control a central issue. Modality, ordered pitches, aleatory, formal structures, texture, and extended techniques are all important elements in this work.
The five duets were created with the concept of a Zen ink drawing in mind. Technically these drawings are created with one continuous brush stroke after meditation. Each duet was written from beginning to end in one sitting.
In general the piece, like the text, expresses a bit of urgency about life. Considering the current political climate nationally and internationally, I wanted to write a piece that reflected various traditions old and new that reflect the urgency, journey, and freedom of life.
Life Goes was premiered by Louise Toppin and the Mallarmé Chamber Players on January 28, 2007 in Durham, NC.
Text
I
Life goes by moving,
Up and down a chain of moods
Wanting what’s nothing.
II
My soul is the wind
Dashing down fields of Autumn:
O, too swift to sing.
III
I shall spend my moods
Like a rose discards leaves
And die without moods.
IV
My ears burn for speech
And you lie cold and silent.
Supinely cruel:
V
Look at the white moon
The sphinx does not question more.
Turn away your eyes.
VI
The poetry of life?
NO, the picture of my dreams
Flashing on my heart.