The Program

To poems by the Bengali poet, Tagore: “When I bring to you colour’d toys,” “The Sleep That Flits” --John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951)

“Carpenter is known for his orchestral works,” Harrington said. “These have a metaphysical quality, and also a fairy tale feeling.”

In a Myrtle Shade.” by Charles Griffes (1884-1920)
“A composer of Carpenter’s generation, and like him he absorbed compositional elements of French melody composers. They wrote very gentle harmonies.”

Six songs by John Duke (1899-1984)
Loveliest of Trees
I can’t be talkin’ of Love
Shelling Peas
Little Elegy
I Ride The Great Black Horses
I carry your heart

“These six songs are set to poems by six different poets. ‘Shelling Peas’ is a fantasy, and a lot of fun for audiences. ‘I Ride the Great Black Horses’ is quite a ride—it’s a frantic, rhythmic tour de force for both pianist and singer. From the opening piano figure, we’re running at breakneck speed, and you know it’s going to be a journey of heartbreak somehow…‘I carry your heart’ is a poem by e.e. cummings, just an outpouring of love.”


“Half-Minute Songs” by Carrie Jacobs Bond (1862-1946.)
Making the Best of It
First Ask Yourself
To Understand
Doan’ Yo’ Lis’n
How to Find Success
The Pleasure of Giving
Answer the First Rap
A Good Exercise
A Present From Yourself
Now and Then
When They Say the Unkind Things
Keep Awake

“ Each one lasts maybe 20 seconds, and they’re each a little platitude about how to go through life—sort of a Miss Manners of composition. I’ve done these songs before and I just adore them.”

--Intermission—

Sven Lekberg (1899-1984)
The Road to Avrillé, I drank at Every Vine, The Spring and The Fall

“Lekberg was primarily a choral composer who wasn’t known for his solo art song settings, so they’re not done very often, but they’re interesting. They’re very chromatic and romantic. In these three songs, the first and third are very big, very operatic, with lots of dynamic contrast. But between them is a song that’s absolutely minimalist compared to the two that surround it.”

Poetic Pairs:

The Daisies, by Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
The Daisies by Seymour Barab (b. 1921)

How Do I love Thee? Norman Dello Joio(b. 1913)

How Do I Love Thee? Sonnets from the Portuguese, no. 6 by Libby Larsen (b. 1950)


Out of the Morning by Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987)
Will There Really Be a Morning? By Ricky Ian Gordon (b. 1956)


“The last part of the program is what I’m calling ‘Poetic Pairs’—the same text set by two composers. ‘The Daisies’ is set by Samuel Barber and also by Seymour Barab [perhaps best known for his childrens’ operas.] Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee” is interpreted by Norman Dello Joio and a very contemporary female composer, Libby Larsen. ‘Will There Really Be a Morning?” is a contemplative poem by Emily Dickinson, as set by Vincent Persichetti [perhaps best known as a music educator, one of whose students was composer Philip Glass] and also by Ricky Gordon, who is one of the contemporary composers bridging the gap between classical music and musical theatre.”


Elisabeth Harrington

Soprano Elisabeth Harrington is Assistant Professor of Voice at HSU this year. She teaches voice classes and directs the Opera Workshop.

She earned her DMA in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado (Boulder), and taught voice at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She completed the M.M. in Voice Performance at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, her native city.

In addition to her opera and classical music performances (including two seasons with the Aspen Music Festival Opera Theater), she has appeared in musical theatre, and sang and played flute in a blues and bluegrass band.