Octaves and Sweet Sounds

Song Collection

Octaves and Sweet Sounds was commissioned in 1989 by Art Song Minnesota, a festival sponsored by the University of Minnesota. It was written for mezzo-soprano Glenda Maurice and pianist Ruth Palmer, and was premiered by them in St. Paul, June 9, 1990 at the McKnight Theatre. It consists of five songs and is appropriate for an advanced singer, either male or female. If performed as a group, the duration is approximately 13 minutes. The set is published by Boosey & Hawkes, 1993 and is available in a medium key (VAB-304) and a high key (VAB-305). The high key lies one step higher than the medium, with the exception of "Well Welcome," which is in the same key as the medium version. In a review of Octaves and Sweet Sounds, Louise Lerch (Sept. 1994), regular music reviewer for the NATS Journal of Singing says, "Hundley's songs are always melodically appealing and harmonically interesting...Richard Hundley is a first-class composer of American song and this set is definitely worthy of...attention." (p. 59)

--Esther Jane Hardenbergh

Date: 1989Composer: Richard HundleyText: E. E. Cummings, James Joyce, James Purdy, Gertrude Stein, José García Villa

Print vitals & song text

Songs

Audio

Track:

    Sheet Music

    Octaves and Sweet Sounds (High Voice)

    Composer(s): Richard Hundley

    Song(s): 1. Strings in the Earth and Air Text: James Joyce
    2. Seashore Girls Text: E. E. Cummings
    3. Moonlight's Watermelon Text: Jose Garcia Villa
    4. Straightway Beauty On Me Waits Text: James Purdy
    5. Well Welcome Text: Gertrude Stein

    Voice Type: High

    Buy via Boosey & Hawkes

    Octaves and Sweet Sounds (Medium Voice)

    Composer(s): Richard Hundley

    Song(s): 1. Strings in the Earth and Air Text: James Joyce
    2. Seashore Girls Text: E. E. Cummings
    3. Moonlight's Watermelon Text: Jose Garcia Villa
    4. Straightway Beauty On Me Waits Text: James Purdy
    5. Well Welcome Text: Gertrude Stein

    Voice Type: Medium

    Buy via Boosey & Hawkes

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