2004

Listen (7')

Tenor or soprano

Julie Cross, soprano

Flute

Cathie Apple, flute

Clarinet in Eb

Lisa Raschiatore, Eb clarinet

Soprano Saxophone

Bobby Streng, soprano saxophone

Violin*

Austin Wulliman, violin

Marimba

Hayes Bunch, marimba

Piano*

Thomas Bandy, piano

with Marcin Bela conducting

When Cathie Apple asked me to set some of her uncle's poetry, she gave me quite a stack from which to choose. What drew me to setting this particular poem was its simultaneous simplicity and complexity - a balance that exemplifies the finesse in Duane Taylor's writing. He creates an expansive atmosphere while focusing on small, seemingly ordinary details. There is a splendid trajectory of shifting perspective and tone, all the while dealing with deeply meaningful subject matter - being a part of something much larger than oneself - and reminding us of the basic goodness of human beings. Even in the darkest of times there is hope!

Not brazen gulls mingling with the padres,

it's a crow day on the Farm

but crows , their pale primaries

---hundreds work the still warm lawn

moving the misty air like fingers,

or rest on bare, wet branches.

beating a blessing behind the whole

busy congregation.

Startled they fly, dark ash rising

from prairie fire, sounding in flight

Of such is the One Spirit, Friend

---whispers of countless wings,

who looks like us without our dark

harsh crackle of their song---

plumage, its fresh linen snapping

scouting for the next unplucked field

out sheer joy.

falling for the easy glean and endless

stately jostling.

Slow down a bit. Enjoy being

overtaken by the white ones

I watch the lingering high few,

who lead us to the everfreshening

when in the top flight I see six

field where the kind old Fletcher

honest-to-God white crows!

cradling his dyeing brush

color of flat pearl and the flattened

paints us pure,

early-winter Illinois sky

like the heart we've always had.

that tents them all.

--Duane Taylor

*back to music*