Description

Far Away… is dedicated to the memory of Lynn Johnston (1949-2016) and was premiered at the Market House, Castle Cary (Somerset) on Friday 22 July 2016 by …Sarah Poole (soprano) and David Heyes (piano), receiving its US premiere on Sunday 20 April 2024 at Meetinghouse Arts (Freeport, Maine) by the same performers. Canadian born Lynn Johnston had lived in Castle Cary for a number of years and owned The Bailey Hill Bookshop sharing her wonderful knowledge and love to books to everyone she met. She had also been a singing student of Sarah Poole, who sang at Lynn’s funeral, and Far Away… was composed for Sarah for a memorial service which brought together many of Lynn’s friends to remember and celebrate her life. The musical material is built on a simple four bar chordal phrase with the same underlying bass note in every bar. Set to words by the First World War poet Isaac Rosenberg (1890-1918) who was born in Bristol but lived most of his life in East London, the melodic interest is always given to the singer underpinned by a strongly supportive chordal accompaniment which features interesting chords, often with the addition to a 7th to create a musical palette which is neither major nor minor. This edition includes versions for High, Medium and Low Voice By what pale light or moon-pale shore Drifts my soul in lonely flight?
Regions God had floated o’er
Ere He touched the world with light? Not in Heaven and not in earth Is this water, is this moon;
For there is no starry birth, And no dawning and no noon. Far away- O far away,
Mist-born-dewy vapours rise From the dim gates of the day Far below in earthly skies. Isaac Rosenberg