Six Songs on Poems by Henry W. Longfellow for high voice and piano Op.57 (1997) c.15'00"

I. Hymn To The Night
II. Mezzo Cammin
III. Snow-Flakes
IV. The Haunted Chamber
V. Delia
VI. The Arrow And The Song

Commissioned by the Geraldine and Emory Ford Foundation

Dedicated to Robert White

First performed on February 17th, 1998 at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City by Robert White, tenor with the composer at the piano

ABOUT

These songs were commissioned by the Geraldine C. and Emory M. Ford Foundation.  It was after hearing tenor Robert White perform a Romantic song program that Geraldine Ford suggested that I compose some settings of Romantic poetry especially for him.  I had already written one work for Robert based on Yeats texts for chamber ensemble,  and welcomed the opportunity to write some songs for him with piano alone.  After perusing the works of many poets,  Longfellow was chosen and the following songs are the result.

RECORDINGS

REVIEWS

“Lowell Liebermann’s Six “Longfellow” Songs were ingratiating and elegant…Mr. Liebermann can make even two unrelated harmonies in opposition sound sweet.”
The New York Times