NEW YORK SCENES 

song cycle

​

 

EXCERPT- Internal Monologue Drinking Song

(01:51)
music and text by Justine F. Chen
performed by Matt Boehler/Bass, Eduard Laurel/piano.

​

program notes:
New York Scenes was originally written for lyric baritone Giuseppe Spoletini.  The word in the title “scene” better describes the spirit of these pieces than the word “song”. 

Influences for this cycle include Georges Aperghis' Récitations and Franz Schubert's Erlkönig.

These songs were written for Giuseppe’s voice type, and actually it sits quite high for him.  This version for bass is transposed down a minor third.  I think the gender-neutral everyday character of the narrator make the songs easily transferable from one voice type to another.  I strongly encourage other voice types to perform these songs.

The song cycle was premiered in its entirety by Giuseppe Spoletini and pianist Eduard Laurel at the Cornelia Street Café in New York on October 9th, 2006.

The bass version was premiered at Cornelia Street Café January 14, 2008 by the masterful and remarkable bass Matt Boehler, and my dear friend and collaborative partner, Eduard Laurel.



For another excerpt, click here