About the song . . .
When I Sing to Make You Dance was commissioned by Polly Murray and ChildrenSong of New Jersey to provide artistic expression for emerging mixed choirs. The ranges are ideal for newly changed and developing voices. An energetic piano accompaniment features subtle suspensions that provide a harmonic and rhythmic underpinning for the singable vocal lines. The addition of the soprano solo and flute obbligato allow for an accessibly rich texture. The director may consider engaging a dancer, adding yet another visual element that reinforces the text.
About the poet . . .
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was a Bengali writer, painter, and musician perhaps best known for his poetry. In 1913, he became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature for his work. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), is comprised of 103 English poems dealing with a metaphysical nature of union. From this larger work, the text for When I bring to you colour’d toys, my child is used as the foundation of this choral work. The imagery suggests the beauty of singing and its capacity to elicit to a larger union among individuals, nature, and the world at large.
Narration during the introduction . . .
“There are moments in life that remind us that we are connected to something bigger than ourselves. Each day brings with it new opportunity to recognize the beauty within ourselves and each other. Whether the laugh of a friend, a kind word from a stranger, or a melody that makes our spirit sing; each give us the chance to rise above the day to day and seek a union with the good that is around us all in every moment.”
Michael John Trotta is a composer, conductor, and clinician regularly accepting commissions and conducting engagements throughout the country. As an educator, he has held positions at the middle school, high school, and university levels. As a composer he is published with Colla Voce Inc., GIA Publications, Kjos Music Company, MorningStar, Alliance, and Carl Fischer Publications. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Music Education) and a Master of Music (Choral Conducting) from Rowan University where he studied with Dr. Z. Randall Stroope. He currently serves as Associate Director of Choral Stuides at Oklahoma State University where he is also Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education. Prior to his appointment at OSU, he conducted the Chamber Singers and served as the director of the Tiger Glee Club at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he will complete his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting in Spring 2012.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.