Heron and Ivy from "The Lost Words"

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The Lost Words is a major choral work and the brain-child of Morna Edmundson, Artistic Director of Elektra Women's Choir. As part of this project, 10 Canadian composers were commissioned to set two poems each from Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris's bestselling book of the same name — a book intended to conjure back 20 words about nature removed from the Oxford Children's dictionary. The two pieces with music by Katerina Gimon are Heron and Ivy, the 9th and 10th movements in this set.

You can read more about The Lost Words project and find detailed conductor notes for all pieces here. For a poetry, perusals, and scores visit Cypress Choral Music.

Cypress Choral Music · Heron - by Katerina Gimon - #9 from "The Lost Words"

Cypress Choral Music · Ivy - by Katerina Gimon - #10 from "The Lost Words"

Heron (#9)

In Heron, I aimed to capture the regality, tranquility, and power of this majestic bird. The text of this spell makes clever use of alliteration, repetition, rhythm, and wordplay which aid in carefully depicting characterizing this incredible bird and which left lots of space for me to play with musically! The story and music for Heron are in three sections:
1) The hunt of the heron — marked by a sharp, fiery, and rhythmic musical character.
2) Serene stillness — where heron is still and the music ebbs and flows like ripples in water.
3) The flight of heron — with music rises and soars above as the heron ultimately flies away.

Ivy (#10)

Although Ivy is one of the shorter spells in this collection, what drew me to this poem was its very playful tone and its audacious personification of ivy. Musically, I aimed to bring out this tone through melodic inflections and glissandi in the choral. As well, you'll hear the twisting vines of ivy interweave in the accompaniment and the work as a whole move up and up right to the end of the work.

Duration

The Lost Words
     Heron [3']
     Ivy [1']

Year of composition

2019

Voicing(s)/ensemble

Heron

• SSAA and piano, OR
• SSAA with chamber ensemble (flute, clarinet, cello, and percussion)

Ivy

• SSAA and piano, OR
• SSAA with chamber ensemble (horn, bass clarinet, violin, and percussion)

Licensing

Contact Cypress Choral Music.

Purchase/view score

Cypress Choral Music

NOTE: available as individual movements or for purchase as part of The Lost Words: A Spell Book with all 20 works.