Beth Anderson
Rhode Island Swale
Year: 1996
Duration (in minutes): 7
Difficulty: Medium (college/community)
Category: piano
Instruments: piano
Publisher: available from the composer
Publisher website: www.beand.com
Description: First performed by Elaine Comparone at Buecher & Harpsichord; commissioned by Bobby Buecher. This piece begins with a Phrygian folk-tune which ends with a turn (BCBAB). This is followed by a lochrian tango and a aeolian melody in which the harpsichord sings words whose text remains mysteriously hidden under the music ending with a turn (ABAGA). The text is derived from an English translation of the Heine poem, Auf flugeln des gesanges (;On Wings of Song); as loosely condensed and paraphrased by Jason Serinus.