Inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson, these four love song settings evolved as dramatic duets for soprano, tenor and piano which came to correspond with the four seasons, both in the poetic imagery and as an allegory for the different stages of love.
My River Runs conjures up the exuberance and purity of spring streams, brooks and rivers rushing toward the open sea, as young, idealistic love overflows and yearns for the beloved. This is reflected musically by swiftly moving arpeggiations in the piano and soaring vocal lines.
My River Runs to Thee (Spring)
My River runs to thee –
Blue Sea! Wilt welcome me?
My River waits reply –
Oh Sea – look graciously –
I’ll fetch thee Brooks
From spotted nooks –
Say Sea – Take me!
The Fainting Bee evokes the sensuous heat of summer with imagery of the tender, bashful, erotic dance between bee and flower, suggesting the lover’s first embrace. The music depicts this by slow moving chords building to a climax, interspersed with descending chromatic lines indicating the bliss of the fainting bee “lost in balms”.
The Fainting Bee (Summer)
Come slowly, Eden
Lips unused to thee,
Bashful, sip thy jasmines,
As the fainting bee,
Reaching late his flower,
Round her chamber hums,
Counts his nectars – enters,
And is lost in balms!
Heart We Will Forget brings about a chilly change as in autumn, with an internal dialogue between the head and heart to end the relationship by deliberately trying to forget the loved one. The music takes on a jocular tone at first, then explodes in a passionate outburst as it becomes clear that forgetting the warmth and light of the beloved is easier said than done!
Heart We Will Forget (Autumn)
Heart, we will forget him!
You and I, tonight!
You may forget the warmth he gave,
I will forget the light.
When you have done, pray tell me,
That I my thoughts may dim;
Haste! Lest while you’re lagging,
I may remember him!
Wild Nights-Wild Nights! suggests the winter months with its long nights and buried feelings of nostalgia, regret and longing. A sense of loneliness, futility and restriction as the heart is bound “in port”, brings about the desire to rebel and break free from the rules in “Done with the compass, Done with the chart”. The galloping rhythms throughout reveal the restlessness and passion for the freedom of the sea and the ultimate embrace of love.
Wild Nights-Wild Nights! (Winter)
Wild nights – Wild nights!
Were I with thee –
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!
Futile – the winds –
To a heart in port –
Done with the compass –
Done with the chart!
Rowing in Eden –
Ah, the Sea!
Might I but moor – tonight –
In thee!
Emily Dickinson Seasons of Love Songs by Susan J Fischer
