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“For Suzanne” (2004)
Work suggested by ... Peter Golub
Composer ... Billy Childs
“For Suzanne is a stunning piece
that skillfully combines innovative jazz and
classical composition.”
Inspired by the poem "Take for example this," by American poet and painter E. E. Cummings, For Suzanne, by composer Billy Childs, was originally commissioned for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and was first premiered on January 24, 2004. Led by conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, and featuring the composer himself on piano, the debut of For Suzanne represented one of the earliest performances of the philharmonic at the newly completed Disney Hall, in Los Angeles, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.
When describing the musical structure of For Suzanne, Childs explained "Musically, the composition follows, loosely, a three-part form. The first part is a setting of the poem. The second part is a solo section for vocals and piano. The third part is a reprise of the setting of the text." When also discussing his selection of the work of E. E. Cummings as inspiration, he stated "in approaching this piece conceptually, I sought to communicate a feeling of deep love, a love that one has for one's spouse. The poem "Take for example this," by E. E. Cummings, proved to be a perfect vehicle through which to express my idea of love. To me, it is one of the most beautiful poems on the subject."
Living, traveling, and writing in Paris during most of the 1920s, as well as throughout much of his lifetime, Edward Estlin Cummings (E. E. Cummings) was exposed to a lifestyle that differed completely from anything he had ever known. When describing his earliest encounters in the French capital, he stated "Everywhere I sensed a miraculous presence, not of mere children and women and men, but of living human beings; and the fact that I could scarcely understand their language seemed irrelevant, since the truth of our momentarily mutual aliveness created an imperishable communion." Immersing himself in the fabric of the city, and eventually speaking fluent French, Cummings celebrates his experiences in France's capital throughout much of his writing, including in the 1925 "Take for example this."
In Billy Childs' passionate, 2004 interpretation for vocalist and orchestra, E. E. Cummings' celebration of a man's extraordinary love for a woman, and the timeless fascination of Paris as its backdrop, is forever brought to life through the music of For Suzanne.
Take for example this:
if to the colour of midnight
to a more than darkness(which
is myself and Paris and all
things)the bright
rain
occurs deeply,beautifully
and i(being at a window
in this midnight)
for no reason feel
deeply completely conscious of the rain or rather
Somebody who uses roofs and streets skilfully to make a
possible and beautiful sound:
if a(perhaps)clock strikes,in the alive
coolness,very faintly and
finally through altogether delicate gestures of rain
a colour comes,which is morning,O do not wonder that
(just at the edge of day)i surely
make a millionth poem which will not wholly
miss you;or if i certainly create,lady,
one of the thousand selves who are your smile.
About Billy Childs:
(b Los Angeles, 8 March 1957). American pianist and composer. A founding member of the experimental jazz ensemble Night Flight, Childs' orchestral and ensemble compositions have been commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Plymouth Music Series, the New Century Chamber Orchestra, the Dorian Wind Quintet, and the Monterey Jazz Festival.
About Peter Golub:
American composer. Currently serving as director
of the acclaimed Sundance Institute Composer's
Lab, Peter Golub has written extensively for
film, concert hall, ballet, and theater. The
recipient of numerous awards from such distinguished
institutions as the American Academy of Arts
and Letters, his orchestral works have been
commissioned by the Atlanta Ballet, the Cincinnati
Ballet, Ballet West, and Les Grandes Ballets
Canadiens.
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