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Chamber Intimacy

Harry, M

Authors

M Harry



Abstract

Anna Akhmatova's early poetry was immediately hailed in Russia for its 'chamber intimacy': an uncompromisingly personal tone whose directness of utterance is complemented by an unprecedentedly rich handling of the Russian language. In my settings the poetry is foregrounded. The piano shadows the vocal line so closely that at times it should appear, paradoxically, as if the vocal line is emerging from the piano. I have also attempted to reflect the extraordinary vocal range of Akhmatova's recordings of her own poetry with a tessitura that spans three octaves. I would like to thank Dicky Sokolov for her very precise, very insightful translations and for her unfailing, tireless help when I was floundering in my transliterations of the Russian! And above all I'd like to thank Loré Lixenberg whose exceptional voice inspired this piece.

Citation

Harry, M. (2005). Chamber Intimacy. [score/CD]

Other Type Composition
Online Publication Date Dec 1, 2005
Publication Date Dec 1, 2005
Deposit Date Jun 23, 2006
Additional Information Duration: 18 minutes
Additional Information: 'Chamber Intimacy', six settings of poems by Anna Akhmátova for mezzo-soprano and piano, world premiere given at the BMIC Cutting Edge Series by Loré Lixenberg (mezzo-soprano) and Dominic Saunders (piano), The Warehouse, December 2005. The work then received a further performance on 14th March 2007 by Lore Lixenberg (mezzo-soprano) and Kate Thompson (piano) at Hall 2, The Sage Gateshead. Forthcoming performances: at the Fountain House, St Petersburg - i.e., in the house where Anna Akhmatova lived for thirty years of her life! - given by Lore Lixenberg (mezzo-soprano) and Jonathan Powell (piano) on November 27th 2007. Other performance plans: Lore Lixenberg (mezzo-soprano) and Sarah Nicholls (piano), Brunel University, London, Autumn 2007.