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Chorus
2015
6 min.
More Details
- Program Notes
- Text: Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) The Best Thing in the World What’s the best thing in the world? June-rose, by May-dew impearled; Sweet south-wind, that means no rain; Truth, not cruel to a friend; Pleasure, not in haste to end; Beauty, not self-decked and curled Till its pride is over-plain; Light, that never makes you wink; Memory, that gives no pain; Love, when, so, you're loved again. What's the best thing in the world? — Something out of it, I think. Program Notes: One of the things that immediately drew me to this poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning was the opening line: What’s the best thing in the world? It actively invites the reader to reflect on this question and by answering creates a space of gratitude in which Barrett Browning’s beautiful imagery lives and breathes. I was impressed with the way Barrett Browning was able to list her “best things” one after another, yet, from a formal perspective, the poem does not read like a list. Each idea flows beautifully to the next, vividly expressing her answers to the question. My goal was a similar one during the composing process. I wanted to capture musically the uniqueness and emotional expressivity of each individual idea, while creating a sense of belonging together. “The Best Thing in the World” was commissioned by Khorikos and premiered on November 7, 2015 in New York, NY.
- Recording Notes
- Live performance: Khorikos, November 7, 2015; New York, NY
- Ensemble Name
- Khorikos