In the Shadow of Sirius

Jennifer Higdon

2016

Soprano voice, string quartet (violin (2), viola, cello)

In setting the poetry of W.S. Merwin to music (from his exquisite collection, “The Shadow of Sirius”), I realized that these poems say exactly what they need to say, and that an attempt by a composer (who thinks more in musical tones than in words) to create program notes, is a bit of an exercise in futility. I am also a firm believer in the power of poetry to speak to each individual, creating the perfect message for that person. What I take away from a poem will be different from the listener’s experience. Because of this philosophy, I decided to set the first poem twice, in two very different settings: once at the beginning and again at the conclusion. W.S. Merwin’s wonderful poetry illuminates and shadows us in our journeys through song. –Jennifer Higdon

Commissioned by The Cypress String Quartet

For The Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in The Library of Congress and dedicated to The memory of Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky

This project is supported in part by a grant from The National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works

All poetry by W.S. Merwin, from his collection “The Shadow of Sirius”, published by Copper Canyon Press. Copyright © 2008 by W. S. Merwin, used with the permission of The Wylie Agency, LLC.