Song reCycle
Inspired by the song cycle, which conveys a unified story or theme across several separate songs, these programs make new art out of the traditional classical repertoire. Song reCycle programs creatively recontextualize classic songs so they can be appreciated anew. The following examples have experimented with different techniques for communicating with a contemporary audience, allowing distant compositions to speak in a fresh way, while respecting the original music.
When Morning Frees my Eyes:
In this excerpt, we move from a gay man tragically shooting his lover in ‘Der Soldat’ to the same man holding his lover as his life drains away in ‘Dein Angesicht’.
The Heart of King David:
Built around a poetic narrative of King David’s life, this program explores the dramatic moments of the Biblical King’s life and his inward personal journey, by alternating between English Song and Psalm improvisations. With the help of piano, harp, and narrator, we seamlessly flow between each element gaining one interpretation of this complex and epic character.
In this excerpt, the narrator brings us into the action of David’s battle with Goliath, and weaves together psalms of victory and songs of love.
Skeleton Elegies:
Intricately staged in a gothic space and set amongst a graveyard, this excerpt shows the main character pining to be with his lost love, before they are reunited in the second act.