Songs of Memory and Imagery

These songs for SATB choir and band were written in 2004 as part of the commissioning series at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Each poem represents a character, real or imaginary, that serves as the basis for each of the songs. The Snow King, the powerful central figure in the first song, subjects his entire kingdom to eternal winter as a result of unrequited love. Geometry chronicles the attempts of a student to study the eponymous subject while keeping her daydreams at bay. Testimonial, the most nostalgic of the set, forms the emotional core of the cycle. It is a recollection of the innocence and wonder of childhood. Horse and Tree is a dialogue between a parent and child riding a carousel. The earnest nature of the young child's questions are contrasted with the parent's joy in sharing this magical moment. This work provides a fresh new addition to the repertoire for band with choir that can be programmed separately or together.