"Sing no sad songs" [Gerald Kechley]

"Sing no sad songs" [Gerald Kechley]

First line of lyrics: When I am dead, my dearest

Part of: "Three Rossetti Songs"

Kechley, Gerald; music (American, born 1919)

Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)

1972 [composition]

genre: song|song cycle

solo: soprano

instrumentation: flute

origin: United States

male composer

English

Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("When I am dead, my dearest")

Place in the larger work: One of three songs in a song cycle called "Three Rossetti Songs," settings by Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include "Grant us calm"; "Sing no sad songs"; "Who has seen the wind".

Composition history: The following text by the composer was included in the program notes for the 28 May 1989 In Memoriam: Scott Lakin Jones concert: "The first of the 'Three Rossetti Songs,' 'Lord grant us calm,' was written in 1969 (two decades ago!), and the other two added three years later for a specific performance by a singer-friend for whom the original song was written. As it happens, 'Sing no sad songs' uses a text revised from four decades ago, when it was first set for unaccompanied mixed voices in 1949. The flutes, sharing equally as integral parts of a trio, at times take a somewhat contrasted view of the text, and at times find closer connections with the voice. The prevalence of uncontrasted upper register sounds which permeate the piece is a planned textural ambience deemed appropriate for the expression of these particular songs." Gerald Kechley (Program Notes)

Performance instructions: For solo soprano voice and two flutes.

Performance history: 1989, 7 January, Meany Theater, Seattle, "Retrospective concert of the music of Gerald Kechley" performance by Carol Sams, soprano, Felix Skowronek, flute, Pamela Butler Ryker, flute.

Recordings: "Three Rossetti Songs." In Memoriam: Scott Lakin Jones. Performance by Carol Sams, soprano, Felix Skowronek, flute, Pamela Butler Ryker, flute, recorded 28 May 1989 in Brechemin Auditorium, University of Washington, University of Washington School of Music, 2015. CD

Format 1: musical score

complete cycle performance time 10-12 minutes

In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4765

Reference: Gooch, Bryan N.S. and David S. Thatcher. Musical Settings of Early and Mid-Victorian Literature: A Catalogue. New York: Garland, 1979.

Reference: Ezust, Emily. The LiederNet Archive. http://www.lieder.net/lieder/index.html

Other data reference(s): Program Notes for "In Memoriam: Scott Larkin Jones" concert. University of Washington School of Music, 29 May 1989. ResearchWorks Archives, University of Washington, https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/30376. Accessed 3 Sep. 2020.

Cataloguer: Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa

Record: CRM-songwheniamdead-kechley-2

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