Promise Song

I wanted to express the feelings of despondency, anxiety, and frustration brought on by the pandemic. I was asked to set a poem from Don Bogen's book, "Immediate Song," for a performance on the Salon 21: Petite Piano Concerts series. I was immediately struck by the mysterious and oppressive quality of "Promise Song". The music reflects this claustrophobic atmosphere through repetitive gestures and the static quality of its harmony. At times, the singer and pianist break out in several anxiety-ridden phrases only to succumb once again to the sinister mood of the earlier music. The performance was postponed due to COVID-19.