Days of Innocence

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in five movements Instrumentation: Soprano and Piano Completed: November 5, 2002 Dedicated to: Annamarie Zmolek Duration: 11 minutes Text: by e. e. cummings (1894-1962) Premiered: February 20, 2003 by Annamarie Zmolek, soprano, and Cory Bonn, piano

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Audio

III. if now our sun is gone(Annamarie Zmolek, soprano; Cory Bonn, piano)

Program Note

This piece is made up of five poems written by E. E. Cummings, set for soprano and piano. The poems, quite different from much of Cummings’ output, reminisce about several aspects of the poet’s childhood using simple, often child-like language. While sometimes observing the world around him (the first, second, and fourth songs), Cummings also relates a child’s view of Christianity (the third song, which is set with an ancient Marian chant tune) and ethics (the fifth song). This work is dedicated to Annamarie Zmolek.

Performances (3)

February 20, 2003, 7:00 pm (premiere)

Annamarie Zmolek, soprano; Cory Bonn, piano Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY

March 19, 2005, 7:00 pm

Erica Schuller, soprano; Alexandra Le, piano Howard Hanson Hall, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY

April 23, 2005, 10:00 am (third movement only)

Erica Schuller, soprano; Alexandra Le, piano Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY