the birth of language
composed in 2006
for SATB choir, 3 violoncello, and contrabass
the birth of language is a rather long work for voices and strings, influenced by the textural music of my favorite composer, György Ligeti. It’s a setting of my favorite poems as well, Lucille Clifton’s the birth of language. The short poem is stretched out over 15-20 minutes, with the chorus dwelling on each line and the strings creating a variety of different accompaniments; the whole thing culminates with the chorus ruminating on the poem’s final word (and Adam’s first word), “Eve.”
