The American Sublime for baritone and large ensemble

Year
2011
Duration
14'
Category
Voice and Ensemble

Instrumentation: 2(II=picc).afl.bfl(=afl).1.corA.2.bcl.dbcl(=bcl).1.dbn-1.1.0.0-perc(2):I=tam-t/guiro/SD(low, high)/wdbl(large, small)/tamb/4bongos(low to high)/3susp.cym(high)/cyms/vib; II=lion’s roar/BD/4tom-t(low to high)/2susp.cym(low, med)/4tpl.bl(low to high)/2bongos(low, high)/tamb-pft
Dedication: To James Levine
Buy Score: Hendon Music (Boosey & Hawkes)
Manuscripts: Paul Sacher Stiftung
Text Author: Wallace Stevens (English)
Songs: See below

	Title	Instrumentation
1.	The American Sublime	tutti
2.	The Woman in Sunshine	bar, ob, perc(1), pft
3.	This Solitude of Cataracts	tutti
4.	Life is Motion	bar, perc(2)
5.	This is the thesis	tutti

Premiere: Mar 8, 2015/ Evan Hughes, baritone / The MET Chamber Ensemble / James Levine/ Zankel Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY

News

From 100 to 103: The Wisdom of Elliott Carter

March 24, 2016

Wallace Stevens was very concerned that what Americans consider “sublime” lacks spirit. In my musical setting of his poems, I have tried to show that Stevens’ many sided poetry is truly sublime. This work is dedicated to the extraordinary James Levine, who has brought my music to life.

– Elliott Carter