World premiere: Marisa Karchin, soprano and Steven Beck, piano, Merkin Concert Hall, Manhattan, NY, Sept. 22, 2024
After editing the final work of my distinguished composer colleague Brian Fennelly, his Sacred Songs Book II, I became intrigued by the texts he had used: poems of the 17th century English poet and clergyman, George Herbert. I began looking through Herbert’s poetry for texts I might also set to music, and chose two: Denial, and The Storm. Both poems concern the acceptance of prayer, and the beseeching of forgiveness, but the second song, against a metaphor of a storm, allows for great contrast between the two settings. The mini-cycle lasts approximately 8 minutes.
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Review
“The soprano has radiant top notes, clear diction, and a sure sense of phrasing. ‘Denial’ requires all of these characteristics, its wide vocal range matching the various emotions on display in the poem. Beck is a versatile pianist, who matched Marisa Karchin’s attention to the intricacies of the texts and provided vivid accompaniment. The two were a powerful pair when demonstrating the intensity of ‘The Storm.’ ”
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