Articles Tagged with Soprano

We Are Innocent, op. 94

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cantata on letters of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg, 1987-88, 45’30”

for baritone (or tenor), soprano, and optional chorus, with piano or orchestra

in 12 movements, prelude & 2 interludes.

First complete performance by Helene Williams and Peter Schlosser,

with composer at piano, on “Meet the Composer” grant,

at Bryant Library, Roslyn 6/14/88;

also perf. at Museum of Fine Art (Roslyn)10/6/88,

Community Church of Boston, 12/11/88, WESPAC (Ardsley, NY) 12/22/88;

prem. with (Metropolitan Philharmonic) Chorus

at Community Church of NY 6/19/88

also perf. WQXR-AM, NY (“The Listening Room”) 12/8/88

#2, 1, 7 & 4 perf. at Weill Recital Hall benefit for Ezrath Nashim 6/14/89

and at Temple Sinai of Roslyn 8/20/89

prem. w/Soloists, Chorus & Orchestra:

Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus & Orch, cond. by composer

[Associate Conductor: Bill Grossman]

Marymount Manhattan Theater 6/11/89;

video on YouTube as indicated below:

audio recording: OPUS ONE #145

other perfs w/Helene Williams, Ronald Edwards & Chor:

Plandome Unitarian Church 6/19/93;

w/Helene Williams, Gregory Mercer & Chor:

6/15/03 Puffin Cultural Forum, Teaneck NJ;

6/18/03 Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, Manhattan

Prelude

1) Childhood Memories (Julius)

2) The Shofar (Ethel [+Chorus])

3) Together (Julius & Ethel)

4) We Are Innocent (Julius & Ethel [+Chorus])

5) How Sad I Was To Leave You (Ethel) + Interlude

6) How Much You Have Given Me (Julius)

7) The Astounding Spectacle (Ethel & Julius [+Chorus])

7A) Interlude

8) A Visit From Mother (Ethel)

9) Of Course It Isn’t Easy (Julius)

10) “Mercy”?

11) On the Threshold of Death (Julius)

(Variations on a theme by Edith Segal, used by permission)

12) To Michael & Robert (Ethel & Julius [+Chorus])

Glorious War Song, The, op. 95 #17

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Lyrics by Joel Shatzky & composer;

#17 from Superspy!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical, op. 95, 1988;

rev. in 1991; prem. at Tarrytown Music Hall WESPAC Benefit 3/15/91;

recorded by Helene Williams & composer on Songs of Conscience

cassette 3/91 & CD 6/03; also perf. on Composers Concordance concerts,

CAMI HAll & C.W. Post College, 2/92


Tell Me, What Is Love?, op.95 #10

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Words by Joel Shatzky; #10 from Superspy!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical, op. 95,

1988; rev. 1989; expanded from 2′ to 3′

premiered by Helene Williams 12/27/90 Gay Men’s Health Crisis, NYC

on Center for Contemporary Opera Blitzstein program, sponsored by MTC;

also perf. LICA Songs of Love concert 2/5/95, North Merrick Library,

and repeated many times thereafter; recorded on Capstone  CPS 8647;

performed by Michele Eaton & Stephanie Watt, LICA concert 2/11/11.

Girl Without Morals, A, op. 95 #9

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#9 from Superspy!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical, book by Joel Shatzky;

lyrics by composer & Shatzky, 1988; 5′

performed by Helene Williams at Hadassah, 6/88,

Jewish Arts Festival of L.I., 9/3/89,

and many other times as part of program The Jewish Woman in Song;

also by Kathryn Wieckhorst, Gershwin Hotel cabaret, 2/19/09

Superspy!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical, op. 95A

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Book: Joel Shatzky; Lyrics: Composer & Shatzky

revised as one-act cabaret for 2 people (48′) 14 numbers:

1) The Real Realpolitik

2) I Am I… Or Am I? – Why Do I Love Him?

3) We’re Right Because We’re Right

4) The Geneticist’s Song

5) The SDI Waltz (arr. of op. 87, text by composer)

6) Deniability

7) Side by Side with Cyanide

8) Just a Little Favor

9) A Girl Without Morals

10) Tell Me, What Is Love? [expanded version]

11) Superspy

12) A Cure for Everything

13) An Upbeat Ending

14) Superspy-Realpolitik (Encore)

prem. by Helene Williams & composer,

US Peace Committee-Paris 7/7/89; NY 11/18/89

also perf. 2/22/90 Nassau Community College Little Theater;

Chelsea Mansion, E. Norwich (Nassau Cty Ofc of Cultural Dev) 10/20/90;

and Turtle Bay Music School, sponsored by Center for Contemporary Opera

11/17-18/90; command perf for Tom Lehrer, Santa Cruz, 12/91.

Superspy!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical, op. 95

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Book: Joel Shatzky; Lyrics: Composer & Shatzky

for Soprano, Mezzo, Tenor, 2 Baritones & Piano; 18 numbers, 2 acts, c. 2 hrs.

1) I Am I – Or Am I?

2) We’re Right Because We’re Right

3) Why Do I Love Him?

4) The Geneticist’s Song

5) The SDI Waltz (arr. of op. 87, text by composer)

6) Deniability

7) Side by Side with Cyanide

8) Just a Little Favor

9) A Girl Without Morals

10) Act I Finale

11) I Am I – Why Do I Love Him?

12) Tell Me, What Is Love?

13) Superspy

14) The Real Realpolitik

15) Superspy – Realpolitik

16) A Cure for Everything

17) The Glorious War Song

18) Act II Finale: An Upbeat Ending

#11, 2, 5, 9, 6, & 13-15 previewed by Helene Williams & composer 3/6/88

at Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra chamber concert and

on “Contrasts” concert series at Tom O’Horgan’s in New York;

first complete public reading at First St. Playhouse, Ithaca, NY 3/20/88

Revised as op. 95A, q.v.

Zelophehad’s Daughters, op. 100 #3

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#3 of Sisters, op. 100 – last of 3 Biblical monologues;

for solo soprano & piano or 9 instruments (3’40”)

or SSMAA Quintet & piano or 9 instruments (4’53”);

prem. separately 6/12/89 National Council of Women,

Time-Life Bldg, NYC; also performed widely in Florida

and in Europe by Helene Williams;

prem. w/dancers: 6/23/91 Merkin Hall by Helene &

Wendy Osserman Dance Co., viewable on YouTube:

Lot’s Wife, op. 100 #1

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#1 (6’45”) from Sisters, op. 100 – 3 Biblical monologues (1989)

for Female Voice & Piano or 9 instruments;

performed separately by Helene Williams & composer at piano,

Theater unterm Dach, E.Berlin 6/27/89,

Dresden Center for Contemporary Music 7/1/89, and at

Downtown Music Productions Holocaust Mem concert 3/5/90

I’d Like to go Away Alone, op. 105

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setting of poem by Alena Synkova (child survivor of Terezin)

Eng. tr. by Jeanne Nemcova, for Voice & Piano/Organ

(1’27”) 2/91, premiered at Merkin Hall 6/23/91 by

Helene Williams & Composer; recorded on

Songs of Conscience cassette 3/91 & CD 6/03;

arr. (op. 105A)  for Solo Soprano with SATB Chorus

& Piano/Organ; premiered by Cantor Susan Alcott,

Asbury Choir, Asbury United Methodist Church 4/27/95;

also performed by Helene Williams &

Workmen’s Circle Chorus, CUNY Graduate Ctr, 4/18/04

Edith Segal Love Song Cycle, An, op. 107

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on 7 poems from For Dreamers Who Dare (1975)

(6’30”) 1992:

Remembrance – Severance – The Two – Loneliness –

Scars – Your Hand – Waiting

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Greenwich House “Village Varieties” concert

by Composers Concordance 11/19/92

and at LICA Chelsea Center concert 5/22/93,

Songs of Love concert 2/5/95; recorded on Capstone CPS 8647

Helene Wiliams sings Songs of Love

Love Song Cycle on Seven Poems by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, op. 112

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poems written in 1939; setting for Soprano & Piano, 7/93;

(10′) commissioned by Corliss Lamont & dedicated to him,

Beth Lamont, Rosalyn Baxandall, & Helene Williams;

premiere by Helene & composer, Bethpage Library 3/4/94;

Composers Concordance, Kosciuszko Fdn 3/11/94;

Westchester Peace Action Coalition

(in memory of corliss) 6/3/95;

LICA Songs of Love, N. Merrick Library 2/5/95;

recorded at Hicksville Library 3/29/97,

released on Capstone CPS 8647:

Helene Williams sings Songs of Love.

1) If I can step within

2) To My Jewish Friend in Pittsburgh

3) The beauty of love

4) I lock my heart against you [partially reprised as 5A&6A)

5) Won’t you unlock –

6) To Carlo [Tresca], South Beach (After 14 Years)

7) On “Equality”

Journey of Life, op. 115

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setting for Voice & Piano of poem by William Cullen Bryant

(3’43”) Summer, 1994, in memory of Arthur James;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

LICA Bryant Bicentennial Concert, Bryant Library 10/30/94

and SUNY-Purchase 11/3/94; recorded on Capstone CPS 8623

The William Cullen Bryant Bicentennial Concert

by The Long Island Composers Alliance

Longest Stairs, The, op. 117

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setting of poem by Norman Rosten

from his Songs for Patricia

composed in his memory, 3/95 (81”)

version for voice & piano, premiered by

Helene Williams & composer, BargeMusic Bkln 4/4/95;

version for piano alone premiered 5/17/95

Borough Hall, Brooklyn

Song, op. 120A

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2003 completion of 1925 13-measure sketch by Marc Blitztsein

on poem by Rupert Brooke, for Voice & Piano;

also arr. for SATB & Piano;

premiered by Helene Williams & Leonard Lehrman

and recorded by them 10/9/04 in Boulder, CO;

released on Original Cast Records OC 6127

The Marc Blitzstein Centennial Concert CD;

choral version premiered at Blitzstein Centennial concerts,

Feb.-Mar. 2005

Yedid Nefesh, op. 121 #2

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“Beloved of the Soul” (6′)

arrangement of traditional prayer in Hebrew or English tr.

by composer; words & melody by R. Eliezer Azkiri (16th cent.)

for mezzo, clarinet & piano,

commissioned by Marion Capriotti, Fall 1994;

re-arranged by composer for soprano, violin & piano, 2010:

premiered by Helene Williams, Herbert Feldman & composer

Dec. 19, 2010 LICA concert, Plainview-Old Bethpage Library

Echo, op. 128

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setting for 2 voices a cappella, 1996 of Christina Rossetti poem (3′)

premiered by Helene Williams & Ronald Edwards,

Kleine Szene, Saechsische Staatsoper, Dresden, Germany 7/2/96

and by Ron with Janis Sabatino Hills

at Adelphi University 10/7/96 (both LICA concerts);

also sung by Helene & Paul Sperry

on Composers Concordance concert  5/27/04

may i feel, op. 136

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setting of E.E. Cummings poem as

duet for male & female voices & piano (3’00”)

premiered by Helene Williams & composer, Eastover, Lenox MA 6/24/98

also by Ronald Edwards, Janis Sabatino Hills & composer,

Bryant Library (LICA) 11/1/98

Wild Nights, op. 137 #3

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setting of poem (#249) by Emily Dickinson for voice & piano

#3 (of 3) from Emily Dickinson Song Cyclette, op. 137

premiered by Helene Williams & composer, 2/99 (LICA)

recorded on Capstone #CPS-8667:

Helene Williams sings More Songs of Love by LICA Composers

Faith, op. 138

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setting of text by James Baldwin (3′)

for solo voice or SATB chorus & piano;

choral premiere, Malverne Community Presbyterian Church 11/15/98

solo premiere, Helene Williams & composer, Hofstra (LICA) 1/17/99

also sung by Faith Steinsnyder with composer at piano

8/16/09, 8/20/09, 8/8/10, 1/23/11 (Lehrman birthday concerts)

Equatorial, op. 149 #18

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setting of poem by Ian McBryde (3’15”),

#18 (finale) from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Woman’s Song, op. 149 #17

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setting of poem by Judith Wright (2’30”) –

quotes (Schubert’s) “Death and the Maiden,”

as the poem does; #17 from An Australian Odyssey,

op. 149; premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Portrait, op. 149 #16

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setting of poem by Judith Wright (1’40”),

#16 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

fairytale, op. 149 #15

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setting of unpunctuated, uncapitalized prose poem

by Ania Walwicz (8’25”),

#15 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney, 1/9/02,

and at Jan Hus Playhouse, NYC, 4/27/08,

co-sponsored by Vox Novus & Remarkable Theatre Brigade

Erstwhile, op. 149 #14

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setting of poem by Chris Wallace-Crabbe,

#14 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Crosstalk, op. 149 #13

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setting of poem by John Tranter (2’10”),

#13 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney, Jan. 9, 2002

Antipodean Heads, op. 149 #11

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setting of poem by John Forbes (1’50”),

#11 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney, Jan. 9, 2002

After Babel, op. 149 #8

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setting of poem by Peter Goldsworthy,

#8 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Missing Him, op. 149 #7

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setting of poem by Jordie Albiston (1’30”),

#7 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Fugue, op. 149 #5

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setting of eponymous poem by Alison Croggon (2’05”),

#5 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

No More Boomerang, op. 149 #3

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setting of poem by aboriginal Australian poet,

Oodgeroo Noonuccal (2’20”);

#3 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed at Sydney Naturally, Jan. 19, 2002,

on 2 Melbourne radio broadcasts,

Dec. 30, 2001 & Jan. 5, 2002;

and at Jan Hus Playhouse, NYC, Apr. 27, 2008,

co-sponsored by Vox Novus & Remarkable Theatre Brigade

I Remember, [Sonnetina #12], op. 149 #2

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setting of sonnet by Jacob Rosenberg,

premiered by Effie Apelast-Weinberg & composer,

CAMI Hall, Oct. 23, 2001;

also performed by Helene Williams & composer,

Theodor Herzl Club, N. Caulfield, Melbourne 12/31/01,

and at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney, Jan. 9, 2002;

#2 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149 –

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Love Sonnet #9 [Sonnetina #11], op. 149 #1

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setting of sonnet by Edith Speers, for soprano & piano;

#1 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed by them at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney,

Jan. 9, 2002; Sydney Naturally, Jan. 19, 2002;

and on 2 Melbourne radio broadcasts, Dec. 30, 2001

Australian Odyssey, An, op. 149

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18-song cycle on poems by Australian poets (42’30”):

Edith Speers (#1), Jacob Rosenberg (#2),

Oodgeroo Noonuccal (#3), Alex Skovron (#4 & 6),

Alison Croggon (#5), Jordie Albiston (#7),

Peter Goldsworthy (#8), Judith Wright (#9, 16 & 17),

Michael Dransfield (#10), John Forbes (#11 & 12),

John Tranter (#13), Chris Wallace-Crabbe (#14),

Ania Walwicz (#15), Ian McBryde (#18);

for Helene [Williams], to Alex Skovron;

premiered by her & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY, Dec. 2, 2001

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Jewish Haiku, op. 154

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twelve 3-line settings for baritone, soprano & pno/orch:

#1 In the Beginning

#2 Manhood

#3 Nature

#4 Rain

#5 Weather

#6 Death

#7 Elijah

#8 Mantra

#9 Fish

#10 Wandering

#11 The Score

#12 After All

premiere Aug. 22, 2002 by Cary Bair & Helene Williams

with composer at the piano, Eastern Naturist Gathering,

Eastover Resort, Lenox, Mass.

Eve, op. 156

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duet for soprano & tenor, a cappella (1’22”)

on text by Abel Meeropol;

premiered by Helene Williams & Gregory Mercer,

Queens College, Feb. 23, 2003;

recorded on Original Cast Records CD 6055

The Abel Meeropol Centennial Concert