Verses for Children (2020) // 14'
2nd Place Winner, 2021 NATS Art Song Composition Competition
From nursery rhymes to lullabies, children’s songs are a universal part of our lives. The melodies and lyrics continue to play in our minds well into adulthood, serving to transport our grown selves directly to the realm of youthful imagination. In Verses for Children, we hear a child’s voice narrate with playfulness and wonderment as they observe the world around them. This interaction with nature is a crucial thread woven through each of the songs—each poem conveying the deep sense of connection we feel as children to the rest of the world, imbuing celestial and terrestrial objects alike with an essence of humanity by means of the imagination.
In the songs, I try to capture the innocence of the child-speaker by composing melodies reminiscent of the children’s songs we know and love. A four-note pentatonic motive is present throughout each of the songs, representing the powerful imagination of the child.
Purchase includes a PDF of the full score for all songs.
Collection includes:
- The Crescent Moon
- Wind
- Sea Shell
- Climbing
- The Trout