One of Daugherty's most soulful and expressive works, Songs from a Silent Land (2019) for soprano and symphonic winds is inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson (1830-1866) and Christina Rossetti (1830-1894). Comprised of three songs reflecting on this world and the possibility of a next world, Songs from a Silent Land caused a sensation when it was premiered by the Louisiana State University Wind Ensemble (conducted by Damon Talley, with soprano Hila Plitmann) at the College Band Directors National Association Convention (CBDNA) at Arizona State University on February 20, 2019. The music reflects on our experiences of life and nature in the world around us (Water is Taught by Thirst [1859], Dickinson) and laments upon the impossibility of reaching heaven during one's lifetime (De Profundis, [1876], Rossetti), concluding with a bittersweet musical rendering of Rossetti's sonnet, Remember [1862]. If you are looking to program a poignant and meaningful work for your next concert, Songs from a Silent Land is an excellent choice that your audience will long remember.
Instrumentation (one player per part)
Soprano solo
Piccolo/Alto Flute
Flute
Oboe
English Horn
Bb Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
2 F Horns
2 C Trumpets (mutes: straight metal, cup mute, harmon mute/stem out)
Harp
Percussion (two players)
1. Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Xylophone
2. Triangle (mounted), Vibraslap (mounted), Claves, Chimes, Castanets (mounted), Kick Drum, Wind Chimes, Crotales (one octave, lower octave), Tambourine (small), Glockenspiel (shared with Percussion 1)
Contrabass.
