Fred Hersch recently composed a musical score
to Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, "Song of Myself"
that is magnificent. Jazz artist, Kurt Elling, and Kate McGarry on vocals.
I saw it last week at Mendelson Hall in A2, MI.
I guess the tour had already done SF and was headed from MI to NYC, Carnegie Hall. Get a CD copy if you can somehow.
It is magnificent and will hold you spellbound.
Lisa
Thanks for the tip! I am listening to John Adam's powerful 'The Wound Dresser' which is an orchestral accompaniment to Whitman's poem, and look forward to finding a CD of the above Fred Hersch. By the way, is there anything more beautiful or sad than 'Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking'? It seems that the North Americans can do things with words that we in our constricted countries cannot. A broader canvas...?
from LEAVES OF GRASS
OUT of the cradle endlessly rocking,
Out of the mocking-bird’s throat, the musical shuttle,
Out of the Ninth-month midnight,
Over the sterile sands, and the fields beyond, where the child, leaving his bed, wander’d alone, bare-headed, barefoot,
Down from the shower’d halo,
Up from the mystic play of shadows, twining and twisting as if they were alive,
Out from the patches of briers and blackberries,
From the memories of the bird that chanted to me,
From your memories, sad brother—from the fitful risings and fallings I heard,
From under that yellow half-moon, late-risen, and swollen as if with tears,
From those beginning notes of sickness and love, there in the transparent mist,
From the thousand responses of my heart, never to cease,
From the myriad thence-arous’d words,
From the word stronger and more delicious than any,
From such, as now they start, the scene revisiting,
As a flock, twittering, rising, or overhead passing,
Borne hither—ere all eludes me, hurriedly,
A man—yet by these tears a little boy again,
Throwing myself on the sand, confronting the waves,
I, chanter of pains and joys, uniter of here and hereafter,
Taking all hints to use them—but swiftly leaping beyond them,
A reminiscence sing.
Wally's favorite device:
[www.google.com]
Thanks Paul---
I look forward to checking out John Adams piece.
xoxo,
Lisa
Post Edited (03-18-05 14:18)