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Morten Lauridsen Two Songs on American Poems for Baritone and Piano

The Two Songs on American Poems were composed in late May and early June of 2011 by candlelight at my rustic waterfront cabin on a remote island off the northwest coast of Washington State. It was in this locale that I have completed a number of works over the years, including the Lux Aeterna, O Magnum Mysterium, Nocturnes, Canticle/O Vos Omnes and others. Prayer was written in memory of Michael Jasper Gioia, Dana and Mary Gioia's infant son, whose brief life was tragically ended by SIDS. Mr. Gioia served as Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003-2010 and has authored several books of poems, numerous anthologies, articles, essays and two opera libretti. Among his many awards are the American Book Award and Presidential Citizens Medal. He currently holds the Judge Widney Chair of Poetry and Public Policy at the University of Southern California. In 2016, Dana Gioia was appointed California State Poet Laureate. Sure on this Shining Night was originally composed as a choral piece, the third movement of my Nocturnes on poems by Rilke, Neruda and Agee. Rod Gilfry, an international star of opera, recital and musical theater, premiered the mixed duet version with his daughter, Carin, in 2009. He is Professor of Vocal Studies at the USC Thornton School of Music. Both he and Mr. Gioia are national treasures. The Two Songs are designed as a pair but may be sung independently; when paired, Sure On This Shining Night should begin immediately following the final, sustained chord of Prayer with no break in between the songs. Both of these songs, premiered by Mr. Gilfry accompanied by the composer at a USC Visions & Voices tribute to Dana Gioia on September 27, 2011, have their roots in the American musical theater and should be sung as such. —Morten Lauridsen The Storybook Cottage Beachwood Canyon, Los Angeles

The music of Morten Lauridsen, Distinguished Professor of Composition at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, occupies a permanent place in the standard vocal repertoire of the Twenty-First Century. His works, including seven vocal cycles and a series of sacred motets, are regularly performed throughout the world and have been recorded on over 150 CDs, several of which have received Grammy nominations. Named an “American Choral Master” by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2005, he was awarded the 2007 National Medal of Arts, the highest artistic award in the United States, by the President in a White House ceremony “for his composition of radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power, and spiritual depth.”

For more about Morten Lauridsen: www.peermusicClassical.com and www.mortenlauridsen.com

Texts

1. Prayer

2. Sure On This Shining Night

Echo of the clocktower, footstep in the alleyway, sweep of the wind sifting the leaves.

Sure on this shining night Of starmade shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground.

Jeweller of the spiderweb, connoisseur of autumn’s opulence, blade of lightning harvesting the sky. Keeper of the small gate, choreographer of entrances and exits, midnight whisper traveling the wires. Seducer, healer, deity or thief, I will see you soon enough – in the shadow of the rainfall, in the brief violet darkening a sunset – but until then I pray watch over him as a mountain guards its covert ore and the harsh falcon its flightless young. —Dana Gioia

The late year lies down the north. All is healed, all is health. High summer holds the earth. Hearts all whole. Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder Wand’ring far alone Of shadows on the stars. —James Agee

for Michael Jasper Gioia

Prayer

Dana Gioia

Morten Lauridsen

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to Dana Gioia

Sure On This Shining Night James Agee

Morten Lauridsen

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