Madrigals

For high voice and flute, viola and piano (or voice and piano). Duration - 15 minutes. Poetry by Ben Hjertmann.

I have known composer Ben Hjertmann since 2003, and besides writing excellent classical music he is a gifted writer, teacher, and recording artist. When I asked him what these poems were about, he wrote “the madrigals are about – LOVE” in a particularly bittersweet way. In setting these five poems, I tried to capture exactly that bittersweet feeling of both beginnings and endings.

Songs:
I. Meet
II. ‘Tis
III. Love
IV. Let
V. Farewell

Commissioned by CHAI Collaborative Ensemble.