Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Iain Bell
of you (2016)
- Chester Music Ltd (World)
Programme Note
Commissioned by Carnegie Hall, ‘of you’ is a cycle of six sensual poems by ee cummings exploring a lover’s relationship through the the prism of the senses. Scored for dramatic mezzo-soprano and piano, it aims to harness the extreme sensuality and voluptuousness of colour of this voice type, along with the long-breathed lines and thrilling lower range that such a voice is capable of.
The first ‘in the rain-’ deals with thought; she thinks of her beloved whilst it is raining. The initial high staccati in the piano part, portraying both the rain and the first sparks of thought, develop into richer textures as her thoughts deepen. ‘your little voice’ depicts hearing lover from afar. The piano part is unremitting in its toccata-like tripping quality, suggestive of the wind carrying the voice to her. ‘Lady, i will touch you with my mind’ takes thought to a more probing, intimate place. This insistent probing is depicted by a deep ostinato in the bass. The treble echoes the voice, affirming its intent. The fourth song deals with sight; the textures of ‘my naked lady framed’ are largely homophonic, encapsulating the voice as a frame does a picture. The vocal line itself sings in ever-decreasing, confining intervals from an octave leap all the way to a minor-second, akin to a frame closing in on a picture as our heroine draws closer to her love. ‘i like my body when it is with your’ speaks of the electricity of the sensation of touch, illustrated in the piano part with its perpetually crackling, high staccati chords, later paired with a propulsive, dynamic bass. The final song ‘consider O’ is a testament to all these senses, likening their experience to the heavens at night. It begins with a primal statement of intent after which the voice moves playfully with thrilling excitement in describing the celestial planes. The piano twinkles like the ceiling of stars around her throughout.
The first ‘in the rain-’ deals with thought; she thinks of her beloved whilst it is raining. The initial high staccati in the piano part, portraying both the rain and the first sparks of thought, develop into richer textures as her thoughts deepen. ‘your little voice’ depicts hearing lover from afar. The piano part is unremitting in its toccata-like tripping quality, suggestive of the wind carrying the voice to her. ‘Lady, i will touch you with my mind’ takes thought to a more probing, intimate place. This insistent probing is depicted by a deep ostinato in the bass. The treble echoes the voice, affirming its intent. The fourth song deals with sight; the textures of ‘my naked lady framed’ are largely homophonic, encapsulating the voice as a frame does a picture. The vocal line itself sings in ever-decreasing, confining intervals from an octave leap all the way to a minor-second, akin to a frame closing in on a picture as our heroine draws closer to her love. ‘i like my body when it is with your’ speaks of the electricity of the sensation of touch, illustrated in the piano part with its perpetually crackling, high staccati chords, later paired with a propulsive, dynamic bass. The final song ‘consider O’ is a testament to all these senses, likening their experience to the heavens at night. It begins with a primal statement of intent after which the voice moves playfully with thrilling excitement in describing the celestial planes. The piano twinkles like the ceiling of stars around her throughout.