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JOSEPH SCHWANTNER (b. 1943)Two Poems of Agueda Pizarro (1980)

This chapter presents a highly energetic and dramatic showpiece by Joseph Schwantner. The two substantial settings of poems by the Colombian-American surrealist poet Agueda Pizarro were written for the versatile gifts of Lucy Shelton. The score also bears a message from the poet, expressing her delight at the result. Even though Schwantner has chosen to set the English translations, the music’s sparkling fluidity and elan evoke the colour and spirit of the Spanish language. There is no doubt that a high standard of musicianship is required to negotiate pitches and rhythms with seeming effortlessness. Furthermore, the musical language has an immediate appeal, with a perceptible tonal basis underlying even the most heavily embellished lines.