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for SATB unaccompaniedThe text for this imaginative and effective piece by Gabriel Jackson is a response to Allen Ginsberg's A Supermarket in California by Latvian poet Kārlis Vērdiņš, translated here by Ieva Lešinska. As in Ginsberg's poem, the initial setting is a supermarket, depicted with vivid imagery such as 'a weary, shrivelled apple', before the angel protagonist expounds on their observations about contemporary society. Pleasingly alliterative lines such as 'he'd babble boozily about tanks' are artfully given rhythmic emphasis by Jackson, who fully exploits the dramatic intent of the poem, giving space for the text to come through by homophonic setting, a pure harmonic language, and often sparse textures.
This work investigates the intersection of contemporary poetry and choral composition by setting Kārlis Vērdiņš's text to music for an unaccompanied SATB choir. Gabriel Jackson, a noted composer of contemporary choral music, utilizes the translated text by Ieva Lešinska to explore themes of societal observation and modern alienation. The composition serves as a musical response to Allen Ginsberg's literary legacy, employing specific harmonic structures to heighten the emotional and rhythmic impact of the source material.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts and choral directors frequently highlight this piece for its effective use of sparse textures and pure harmonic language. The work is recognized for its ability to balance dramatic narrative intent with the technical requirements of an unaccompanied choir.
Page Count:
8
Publication Date:
2019-02-06
Publisher:
Oxford University Press Music
ISBN-10:
0193415704
ISBN-13:
9780193415706
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