IAN EMBERSON

Songs and Opera

Five composers have made song-settings of Ian Emberson's poetry:

• Gordon Dyson Moorland Pool - soprano and piano;
• John Bartlett Peewit - baritone and piano; Sky - soprano and piano; Reflections - soprano, flute and piano; and Madonna of the Rocks - soprano and alto choir, and organ or piano.
• Peter Copley Meeting and Parting - song-cycle for baritone and piano - first performed by Nigel Cliffe in 1983;
• Daniel Bath Only My Words Can Dance - song-cycle for tenor, guitar and woodwinds - first performed by the composer in 2002.
• Robin Terry Life's Lone Wilderness - baritone, 'cello and piano - first performed in 2005 as part of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the death of Charlotte Brontë. Robin is at present working on a song-cycle based on some of the poems from Mourning Room.

In addition to the above song-cycle, Daniel Bath has also composed a short opera "The Forest" to Ian Emberson's libretto, and this received its first performance at the Hebden Bridge Festival in 2003. It lasts for about fifty minutes, and has two singing parts only - baritone and soprano - taken at the opera's debut by David Heathcote and Abigail Sharp. The accompaniment is for piano, harpsichord and double bass. Being on such a small scale it could easily be put on at festivals. Contact the author if interested.

Audio

Girl at the Window - setting by Peter Copley from his song cycle Meeting and Parting - performed by Nigel Cliffe (barotone) and Susan Eveson (piano)

Sky - setting by John Bartlett - performed by Marcia McDougall (mezzo soprano) and Alan Graham (piano)