Bird Year
Composition Date: 2006
Duration: 5'
Orchestration: SATB Choir
Information:
Bird Year was commissioned by Phoenix Singers of Shrewsbury, and first performed by the group in 2006. The text consists of four poems written by the composer, and suggests the continuity of life by representing each season with a particular bird.
Programme Note:
Bird Year
Sally Beamish 2006
for unaccompanied choir (SATB)
The four poems are my own, and suggest the continuity of life by representing each season with a particular bird. The music is characterised by raw intervals; 4ths, 5ths and semitones.
The work was commissioned by the Phoenix Singers of Shrewsbury, with financial assistance from the Arts Council of England, the Performning Rights Society, and Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. It was first performed by the Phoenix Singers of Shrewsbury, directed by Richard White, on April 1st 2006, at St Chad’s, Shrewsbury.
Sally Beamish 2006
siskin
the season is hatched
green and gold
from its frozen shell
shoots push through
taut skin
it tests its wings
and the air is doused
with fresh notes
the season is hatched again
swallow
she swoops
across the height of the day
insects hover
pulsing the warmth
with soft droning
her split tail
curves and turns
as she
snatches them
wild geese
south-bound
they’re setting
a flaming trail
stirring up
a wind scattering
cocktail party chatter
and shaking the clothes
from the trees
barn owl
in freezing dark
a white shadow
hurtles earthwards
face flashing
a heart of snow
cries cut bitter air
starlight splinters
a sparkling death
Sally Beamish
Available Recordings:
(none available)