The Music of Lori Laitman, now available as PDFs
The Throwback — for baritone and piano (priced for 2 copies)
SM-000621704
- Komponist
- Lori Laitman
-
Texter
-
Paul Muldoon
- Verleger
- Enchanted Knickers Music
- Genre
-
Klassische Musik / Lied
- Instrumentierung
- Klavier, Bariton
- Partitur für
- Solo, Klavierbegleitung
- Art der Partitur
- Klavierauszug mit Singstimmen
- Länge
- 8'30"
- Sprache
- Englisch
- Schwierigkeitsgrad
- Fortgeschritten
- Jahr der Komposition
- 2003
Beschreibung
I composed The Throwback between April and June of 2003. These five poems by Paul Muldoon (b.1951) deal with the cycles of life —in both the human and animal world.
Cradle Song for Asher was written for the poet’s infant son Asher. The rocking piano accompaniment suggests a lullaby; and the three-part structure of the song matches that of the text. Word painting for “it was I who drifted away” is illustrated by a piano interlude between each section, finally coming to rest at the end of the song.
The opening piano tremolo in The Ancestor evokes the bell at the start of a carousel ride. This sets the stage for a waltz that utilizes harmonies reminiscent of old calliope music. The result of such a quirky accompaniment captures the idea of the not-quite-ancestor and the matching faux heirlooms. The persistent 3/4 meter builds to a raucous finale.
The rise and fall of the opening musical phrase in Redknots was inspired by the image of a pregnant woman's belly, which in turn was inspired by the words “The day our son is due”. As in the first song, the rocking motion of the accompaniment recalls a lullaby. Another example of word painting is the 16th notes in the accompaniment suggesting the flight of the birds.
In The Breather, the lowest voice of the piano echoes the melody line, while the repeated chords in the treble voice of the piano suggest a dirge.
The culmination of the cycle is The Throwback. The opening melodic lines are conversational in nature. A calmer middle section recalling an old parlor song adds to the “throwback” image. An extended piano solo leads to a reiteration of the opening words, bringing the cycle to a close.
- Datum des Uploads
- 21.09.2025