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part of piano score

THE POET
Edward Estlin Cummings (October 14, 1894 – September 3, 1962) is probably best known for his unorthodox usage of both capitalization and punctuation, in which unexpected and seemingly misplaced punctuation sometimes interrupt sentences and even individual words. Several of his poems are also typeset on a page in an unusual fashion, and can appear to make little sense until read aloud. Cummings' poetry often deals with themes of love and nature, as well as satire and the relationship of the individual to the masses and to the world. During his lifetime, he published more than 900 poems, along with two novels, several essays, as well as numerous drawings, sketches, and paintings. He is remembered as one of the pre-eminent voices of 20th century poetry.

THE SETTING
I have used a technique similar to that used by the American composer John Cage to try to convey something of cummings’ use of bracketed words-within-words and lines-within-lines. Cage’s technique is known as Interpenetration and in this context means that the narrator, the vocalist and the pianist will perform their chosen poems simultaneously. A slight variation on the Cageian approach to Interpenetration is my concept of DeBop (‘discovered’ during the writing of my Howl work). This means the performers will endeavour to gravitate towards the essence of one another’s contributions, whilst still staying true to the performance dictates of their own individual parts. Hence, an ensemble unity is arrived at that hopefully transcends the stifling predictability of fully-composed ensemble notation. The general mood of the work is of mystical contemplation. Both listener and performer are compelled by human nature to draw parallels between the individual parts, in the exact same way we view the world around us: not as it truly is, but as we truly perceive it.

The work is divided into three parts or "stanzas" as I have chosen to call them:

first stanza
now is a ship [vocal] - D-re-A-mi-N-gl-Y [piano] - the first of all my dreams was of - plant Magic dust - one winter afternoon [narrator]

second stanza
a great [vocal] - one [piano] - while a once world slips from - if in beginning twilight of winter will stand - now does our world descend [narrator]

third stanza
seeker of truth [vocal] - n [piano] - silently if,out of not knowable -your homecoming will be my homecoming - Now i lay(with everywhere around) [narrator]

DEDICATION
For Derek Bailey (1930 – 2005). Guitarist.
"a great man has gone." - from the poem, "a great", by e.e. cummings.
"The uncompromised conscience of improvised music." - Tony Oxley, drummer, talking about the late Derek Bailey.

THE PERFORMERS
Steve Tromans: Piano and Direction.

Alison Symons: Vocals. Since achieving a 1st Class Honours Degree in composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire in 1998, Alison has performed as a singer in many settings ranging from jazz to gospel, soul and hip-hop as well a leading her own band as a singer-songwriter. She is an active session singer, arranger and vocal coach.

Michael Hurley: Narrator. Mike is a pianist, conductor, percussionist, vocalist, composer and narrator. His recent projects have included composition for Ardman Animations and Fierce Festival, plus the founding of The Birmingham Improvisers Orchestra. Mike currently co-ordinates FiZZLE, a fortnightly free-improvisation evening at the Old Moseley Arms, Moseley. See www.fizzle.info for more.