Songs of Nature

Songs of Nature

Thursday, July 11, 2019 | 8:00 pm | Tickets: $30
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Laurelhurst
4805 NE 45th Street, Seattle

The concert “Songs of Nature” explores humanity’s relationship to its surrounding world, considering how to develop this connection responsibly and unitedly. Each of these works marvels at the multi-faceted beauty and mystery of nature. Historical composers like Brahms and Kodály relish in the still sounds of night, while African-American composer Harry Burleigh brilliantly depicts a glorious sunrise. Burleigh’s friend, the great Czech master Dvořák, is represented by his rarely heard song-cycle Songs of Nature. Tennyson’s There is sweet music, appearing here in Elgar’s ground-breaking setting, uses imagery of nature to connect to the joys of music itself.

Emerald Ensemble is pleased to expand our devotion to living composers this season, particularly Seattle-area composers Greg Bartholomew, Steve Danielson, Donald Skirvin, and Karen Thomas. Due North, by Vancouver-based Stephen Chatman, invites the singers to evoke nature sounds of the Pacific Northwest. Texan composer Mari Valverde sets poetry of Pablo Neruda and Amy Lowell that deeply links the human experience to living nature, concluding: “Joy! With the vigorous earth I am one.”

See concert program, with program notes, texts, and translations.

Repertoire

  • Mari Esabel Valverde (b.1987) – En la noche entraremos
  • Stephen Chatman (b.1950) – Due North
  • Greg Bartholomew (b.1957) – The Tree
  • Steve Danielson (b.1977) – The itsy bitsy spider
  • Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) – In stiller Nacht
  • Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967) – Esti dal
  • Karen P. Thomas (b.1957) – Birds at Winter Nightfall
    intermission
  • Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949) – My Lord, what a mornin'
  • Antonín Dvořák (1841-1901) – V přírodĕ,op.63
  • Donald M. Skirvin (b.1946) – The Delight Song of Tsoai-talee
  • Edward Elgar (1857-1934) – There is sweet music
  • Mari Esabel Valverde (b.1987) – Winter Ride

Performing Artists

  • Gustave Blazek, bass
  • Gary D. Cannon, conductor
  • Erica Convery, mezzo-soprano
  • Jim Howeth, tenor
  • Natalie Ingrisano, soprano
  • Dustin Kaspar, tenor
  • Melissa Plagemann, mezzo-soprano
  • Charles Robert Stephens, baritone
  • Linda Strandberg, soprano