The Poem/ The Song
November 7-8, 2014
harbourfront centre theatre, toronto
A concert program that explored collisions/intersections of poetry and music in various forms. As in 2008’s Words & Music which also probed the intersection of literature and music, the repertoire here spanned across multiple genres and time. The highlights included: Margaret Atwood reading her poetry accompanied by a brand new musical setting by Dan Parr; Franz Liszt's musical impressions of Petrarch's Sonnets; a song from the smash-hit musical, Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber that was inspired by the poetry of T. S. Eliot; a venerable jazz standard by Johnny Mercer and Jimmy van Heuson paired with its poetic homage by August Kleinzahler; a fantastical setting of Walt Whitman’s poetry by George Crumb; and the ultimate marriage of poetry and music in the songs of Leonard Cohen.
Repertoire/Credits/Media
🎥 Introduction
Andrew Burashko
🎥 A History of Western Music: Chapter 29 by August Kleinzahler and I Thought About You by Johnny Mercer & Jimmy Van Heusen
Margaret Atwood reader, Gregory Hoskins singer, Andrew Downing double bass, John Johnson tenor sax, Rob Piltch guitar
🎥 Apparition by George Crumb
I. The Night in Silence under Many a Star
Vocalise 1: Summer Sounds
II. When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd
III. Dark Mother Always Gliding Near with Soft Feet
Vocalise 2: Invocation
IV. Approach Strong Deliveress!
Vocalise 3: Death Carol
V. Come Lovely and Soothing Death
VI. The Night in Silence under Many a Star
Carla Huhtanen soprano, Andrew Burashko piano
🎥 Macavity by Andrew Lloyd Webber
arranged by Shelly Berger
Thom Allison singer, Andrew Burashko piano, Andrew Downing bass, John Johnson tenor sax, Rachel Mercer cello, Rob Piltch guitar, Barry Shiffman violin
INTERMISSION
🎥 Thriller Suite, text by Margaret Atwood
music by Dan Parr
Margaret Atwood reader, Andrew Burashko piano, Barry Shiffman violin, Andrew Downing double bass, John Johnson tenor sax, Rob Piltch guitar, Rachel Mercer, cello
Three Petrarch Sonnets by Franz Liszt
🎥 i. Sonnet 47
🔈 ii. Sonnet 104
🎥 iii. Sonnet 123
Andrew Burashko, piano
Songs of Leonard Cohen
Boogie Street, arranged by Bryden Baird
Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye, arranged by Gavin Bryars
Dress Rehearsal Rag, arranged by Jim McGrath
Gregory Hoskins singer, Andrew Burashko piano, Andrew Downing bass, John Johnson tenor sax, Rachel Mercer cello, Rob Piltch guitar, Barry Shiffman violin
Kevin Lamotte, lighting designer
Maureen Callaghan, production manager
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