Ian Cusson
texts by Katherena Vermette
IN WINTER
for High Solo Voice, Chorus SATB, and Orchestra
From the G. Schirmer Rental Library
Date of Printing________________
G. Schirmer, Inc.
New York, NY
Ian Cusson
texts by Katherena Vermette
IN WINTER
for High Solo Voice, Chorus SATB, and Orchestra
Score
Commissioned by the Canadian Opera Company for the ‘In Winter’ concert program.
First presented by digital broadcast on December 17, 2021 from the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto, Ontario by Melody Courage, soprano, the COC Chorus under Sandra Horst, and the COC Orchestra, conducted by Johannes Debus.
G. Schirmer, Inc. New York, NY
1 . merry christmas (chorus and orchestra)
these houses are tired sighing like old ladies bent over themselves in the cold
eavestroughs frown christmas lights flicker like costume jewelry behind broken windows and toys forgotten in the snow
2. long winter poem (I) (solo voice and orchestra)
if I ever get to see you I will open my hands to yours I will close my dry chapped fingers around your thumbs I will trace your long telling fate line with my bitten down fingertips
if I get to see you I will open my door lead you in I will unzip your winter coat and close my strong tired arms around you I will hold you so tight you might think I won’t ever let go
I miss you
3. in winter when (chorus and orchestra)
in winter when you can barely tell where the ground ends and the river begins in the winter when snow covers earth and it all looks the same
Texts:
4. winter (chorus and orchestra)
in winter the elms black skeletons sky a white cloud breaking open
windows translucent with wrinkled plastic
torn where small children pick holes so they can look outside
5. cocoon (solo voice and orchestra)
cocooned in winter white I slip beside you breathe deep
if you listen you can hear the snow change shift slow to spring poised for melt cloaked under white winter I lie beside you breathe out
if you listen you can hear wet wings unfurl like petals ready to be born
The poems “long winter poem 1” and “cocoon” from river woman by Katherena Vermette ©2018 Katherena Vermette. The poems “merry christmas”, “in winter when” and “winter” from North End Love Songs ©2012 Katherena Vermette. All poems used by permission of the author.
Instrumentation
2 Flutes (II = Piccolo)
Oboe
English Horn
2 Clarinets in Bb
2 Bassoons
4 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
2 Tenor Trombones
Bass Trombone
Timpani
Percussion (2 players)
Player 1: Bass Drum, Sleigh Bells
Player 2: Snare Drum, Crotales, Tam-tam
Harp
Solo Voice
Chorus SATB
Strings (10.8.6.6.4)
duration 9 minutes 30 seconds
InWinter
plegato,espressivo
plegato,espressivo
semprelegato plegato,espressivo
semprelegato
semprelegato
legato,espressivo mplegato,espressivo mplegato,espressivo
*distantcracklingsound:collegnoricochetonanyofthenotesindicatedinthechord. Speed,tempoandnotechoiceshouldbeindependentofotherplayers.
*distantcracklingsound:collegnoricochetonanyofthenotesindicatedinthechord. Speed,tempoandnotechoiceshouldbeindependentofotherplayers.