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Little Tree: each Composer: Weir Judith
Little tree consists of three short choral settings of poems by e.e.cummings, with a total duration of around 6 minutes. The first song ‘little tree’ is in three voices(SSA); the next movement ‘i carry your heart with me’ progresses into four voices; the final song ‘now is a ship’ opens briefly with two solo voices, but ends in 6 vocal parts. Accompanying all three pieces is a simple marimba part which acts as a continuo instrument. In the opening movement, it simply doubles the lowest vocal part; in the later pieces, it provides a simple basis for the choral harmony.
Little tree was written in 2003 for the Young People’s Chorus of New York City and its musical director, Francisco Nunez. The choir has for some time commissioned new work from living composers in its ‘Transient Glory’ series, which has the laudable aims of building the repertoire for upper voice choirs, and introducing contemporary composers and young singers to each other. It was during the Transient Glory series in April 2004 that little tree was first performed.
