Of Earth And Sky
For Contralto/ Mezzo Soprano and Piano | Range: Bb3 - to Eb5
Of Earth and Sky was commissioned by Oxford Lieder Festival and composed especially for contralto, Jess Dandy, in September 2021.
It received its world premiere on 8th October 2021 by Jess Dandy and Martin Roscoe, as part of ‘A Cumbrian Idyll’.
Jess approached me not long before receiving her debut performance at the BBC’s First Night Of The Proms. I had never heard her sing, so tuned in to the performance and was utterly blown away. The ease at which she produced this exquisite sound, seeming to be in a trance-like state as her voice sent ripples down my spine.
When Jess sent me discarded lines from Wordsworth’s ‘Michael, A Pastoral’, (as quoted in James Rebanks “The Shepherd’s Life” xix-xx), I found that the words created such feeling in my chest and visions in my mind. I swim in Ullswater and I am awe-struck by, and crave daily, the fells that frame the lake. I am in love with Cumbria, the place that I grew up and call my home.
I wanted the music to be huge, towering, to be inexplicable, enticing, dangerous and beautiful, just as Wordsworth’s words, Jess’ voice, and my experiences of the lakes and fells are.
Performance Instructions
This piece is grounded, the pulse slow, not driving forwards, but roiling and undulating. It is heavy, vast, grand and present.
The voice’s rhythm is complex - ultimately the important elements are the disparity between the voice and piano rhythms, and the semi-quaver motif. Don’t use the rhythms to drive forward, use them to sit back and swell.
Mild rubato is welcome
There are minimal dynamics. Feel free to interpret these as you wish.
Duration: 4 minutes
Please contact Ella with any questions about this piece
Copyright © Ella Jarman-Pinto 2021
PDF Digital Download
2 Copy License (Singer and Pianist)
Please support self-published composers and buy extra copies rather than photocopying
For Contralto/ Mezzo Soprano and Piano | Range: Bb3 - to Eb5
Of Earth and Sky was commissioned by Oxford Lieder Festival and composed especially for contralto, Jess Dandy, in September 2021.
It received its world premiere on 8th October 2021 by Jess Dandy and Martin Roscoe, as part of ‘A Cumbrian Idyll’.
Jess approached me not long before receiving her debut performance at the BBC’s First Night Of The Proms. I had never heard her sing, so tuned in to the performance and was utterly blown away. The ease at which she produced this exquisite sound, seeming to be in a trance-like state as her voice sent ripples down my spine.
When Jess sent me discarded lines from Wordsworth’s ‘Michael, A Pastoral’, (as quoted in James Rebanks “The Shepherd’s Life” xix-xx), I found that the words created such feeling in my chest and visions in my mind. I swim in Ullswater and I am awe-struck by, and crave daily, the fells that frame the lake. I am in love with Cumbria, the place that I grew up and call my home.
I wanted the music to be huge, towering, to be inexplicable, enticing, dangerous and beautiful, just as Wordsworth’s words, Jess’ voice, and my experiences of the lakes and fells are.
Performance Instructions
This piece is grounded, the pulse slow, not driving forwards, but roiling and undulating. It is heavy, vast, grand and present.
The voice’s rhythm is complex - ultimately the important elements are the disparity between the voice and piano rhythms, and the semi-quaver motif. Don’t use the rhythms to drive forward, use them to sit back and swell.
Mild rubato is welcome
There are minimal dynamics. Feel free to interpret these as you wish.
Duration: 4 minutes
Please contact Ella with any questions about this piece
Copyright © Ella Jarman-Pinto 2021
PDF Digital Download
2 Copy License (Singer and Pianist)
Please support self-published composers and buy extra copies rather than photocopying