Three Songs of Emily Dickinson
Instrumentation: Baritone, Piano
Movements:
I. A Word is Dead
II. I'm Nobody
III. Hope is a Thing with Feathers
Duration: 10'

Video from March 4, 2020
Performers: Dakota Andersen, Korey Barrett
Text:
A word is dead
When it is said,
Some say.
I say it just
Begins to live
That day.
________________
​
I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you - Nobody - too?
Then there's a pair of us!
Don't tell! they'd advertise - you know!
How dreary - to be - Somebody!
How public - like a Frog -
To tell one's name - the livelong June -
To an admiring Bog!
________________
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
Program Notes:
The texts selected for this cycle attracted me for different reasons, but all have a certain charm about them. In the first selection, I attempt to convey Dickinson’s argument that “a Word” just begins to live the moment it is said. Through various permutations of the words found in the poem and somewhat adventurous meter changes, this song is anything but dead.
​
The second selection shows Dickinson’s introverted and shy tendencies. The sparse, pointillistic, and dissonant textures heard especially at the beginning represent Dickinson’s tendencies to use few words (as seen in her poetry) and keep to herself.
​
The final movement of the cycle is the most lyrical and “vocal” of the three. This simple metaphor comparing hope to a bird is an effective ending to an otherwise dissonant and exploratory cycle.
Despite the disparate nature of the three songs, the cycle shows unity through use of similar motives developed in all three movements, and the similar shapes of chords found in the piano. This piece was a collaboration with Dakota Andersen, and is dedicated to him- a friend who exudes hope throughout the “storm” of life.
Completed: December 2019
Performance History:
March 12, 2019
Dakota Andersen, baritone; Korey Barrett, piano
Dakota Andersen Senior Recital
Davis Recital Hall, University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
March 4, 2019
Dakota Andersen, baritone; Korey Barrett, piano
Isaac R. Smith Senior Recital
Davis Recital Hall, University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
August 10, 2019 (Mvmt III only)
Dakota Andersen, baritone; Nicholas Shaneyfelt, piano
Iowa Composers Forum Summer Festival of New Music
Noble Recital Hall, Luther College (Decorah, Iowa)
April 18, 2019 (Mvmt III only)
Dakota Andersen, baritone; Jordan Walker, piano
Student Composers’ Concert
Davis Recital Hall, University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
Recording History:
May 5, 2019 (Mvmt III only)
Dakota Andersen, baritone; Jordan Walker, piano