Soprano with Piano

We Are Innocent, op. 94

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cantata on letters of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg, 1987-88, 45’30”

for baritone (or tenor), soprano, and optional chorus, with piano or orchestra

in 12 movements, prelude & 2 interludes.

First complete performance by Helene Williams and Peter Schlosser,

with composer at piano, on “Meet the Composer” grant,

at Bryant Library, Roslyn 6/14/88;

also perf. at Museum of Fine Art (Roslyn)10/6/88,

Community Church of Boston, 12/11/88, WESPAC (Ardsley, NY) 12/22/88;

prem. with (Metropolitan Philharmonic) Chorus

at Community Church of NY 6/19/88

also perf. WQXR-AM, NY (“The Listening Room”) 12/8/88

#2, 1, 7 & 4 perf. at Weill Recital Hall benefit for Ezrath Nashim 6/14/89

and at Temple Sinai of Roslyn 8/20/89

prem. w/Soloists, Chorus & Orchestra:

Metropolitan Philharmonic Chorus & Orch, cond. by composer

[Associate Conductor: Bill Grossman]

Marymount Manhattan Theater 6/11/89;

video on YouTube as indicated below:

audio recording: OPUS ONE #145

other perfs w/Helene Williams, Ronald Edwards & Chor:

Plandome Unitarian Church 6/19/93;

w/Helene Williams, Gregory Mercer & Chor:

6/15/03 Puffin Cultural Forum, Teaneck NJ;

6/18/03 Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, Manhattan

Prelude

1) Childhood Memories (Julius)

2) The Shofar (Ethel [+Chorus])

3) Together (Julius & Ethel)

4) We Are Innocent (Julius & Ethel [+Chorus])

5) How Sad I Was To Leave You (Ethel) + Interlude

6) How Much You Have Given Me (Julius)

7) The Astounding Spectacle (Ethel & Julius [+Chorus])

7A) Interlude

8) A Visit From Mother (Ethel)

9) Of Course It Isn’t Easy (Julius)

10) “Mercy”?

11) On the Threshold of Death (Julius)

(Variations on a theme by Edith Segal, used by permission)

12) To Michael & Robert (Ethel & Julius [+Chorus])

Glorious War Song, The, op. 95 #17

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Lyrics by Joel Shatzky & composer;

#17 from Superspy!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical, op. 95, 1988;

rev. in 1991; prem. at Tarrytown Music Hall WESPAC Benefit 3/15/91;

recorded by Helene Williams & composer on Songs of Conscience

cassette 3/91 & CD 6/03; also perf. on Composers Concordance concerts,

CAMI HAll & C.W. Post College, 2/92


Tell Me, What Is Love?, op.95 #10

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Words by Joel Shatzky; #10 from Superspy!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical, op. 95,

1988; rev. 1989; expanded from 2′ to 3′

premiered by Helene Williams 12/27/90 Gay Men’s Health Crisis, NYC

on Center for Contemporary Opera Blitzstein program, sponsored by MTC;

also perf. LICA Songs of Love concert 2/5/95, North Merrick Library,

and repeated many times thereafter; recorded on Capstone  CPS 8647;

performed by Michele Eaton & Stephanie Watt, LICA concert 2/11/11.

Girl Without Morals, A, op. 95 #9

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#9 from Superspy!: The S-e-c-r-e-t Musical, book by Joel Shatzky;

lyrics by composer & Shatzky, 1988; 5′

performed by Helene Williams at Hadassah, 6/88,

Jewish Arts Festival of L.I., 9/3/89,

and many other times as part of program The Jewish Woman in Song;

also by Kathryn Wieckhorst, Gershwin Hotel cabaret, 2/19/09

Lot’s Wife, op. 100 #1

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#1 (6’45”) from Sisters, op. 100 – 3 Biblical monologues (1989)

for Female Voice & Piano or 9 instruments;

performed separately by Helene Williams & composer at piano,

Theater unterm Dach, E.Berlin 6/27/89,

Dresden Center for Contemporary Music 7/1/89, and at

Downtown Music Productions Holocaust Mem concert 3/5/90

I’d Like to go Away Alone, op. 105

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setting of poem by Alena Synkova (child survivor of Terezin)

Eng. tr. by Jeanne Nemcova, for Voice & Piano/Organ

(1’27”) 2/91, premiered at Merkin Hall 6/23/91 by

Helene Williams & Composer; recorded on

Songs of Conscience cassette 3/91 & CD 6/03;

arr. (op. 105A)  for Solo Soprano with SATB Chorus

& Piano/Organ; premiered by Cantor Susan Alcott,

Asbury Choir, Asbury United Methodist Church 4/27/95;

also performed by Helene Williams &

Workmen’s Circle Chorus, CUNY Graduate Ctr, 4/18/04

Edith Segal Love Song Cycle, An, op. 107

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on 7 poems from For Dreamers Who Dare (1975)

(6’30”) 1992:

Remembrance – Severance – The Two – Loneliness –

Scars – Your Hand – Waiting

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Greenwich House “Village Varieties” concert

by Composers Concordance 11/19/92

and at LICA Chelsea Center concert 5/22/93,

Songs of Love concert 2/5/95; recorded on Capstone CPS 8647

Helene Wiliams sings Songs of Love

Love Song Cycle on Seven Poems by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, op. 112

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poems written in 1939; setting for Soprano & Piano, 7/93;

(10′) commissioned by Corliss Lamont & dedicated to him,

Beth Lamont, Rosalyn Baxandall, & Helene Williams;

premiere by Helene & composer, Bethpage Library 3/4/94;

Composers Concordance, Kosciuszko Fdn 3/11/94;

Westchester Peace Action Coalition

(in memory of corliss) 6/3/95;

LICA Songs of Love, N. Merrick Library 2/5/95;

recorded at Hicksville Library 3/29/97,

released on Capstone CPS 8647:

Helene Williams sings Songs of Love.

1) If I can step within

2) To My Jewish Friend in Pittsburgh

3) The beauty of love

4) I lock my heart against you [partially reprised as 5A&6A)

5) Won’t you unlock –

6) To Carlo [Tresca], South Beach (After 14 Years)

7) On “Equality”

Journey of Life, op. 115

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setting for Voice & Piano of poem by William Cullen Bryant

(3’43”) Summer, 1994, in memory of Arthur James;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

LICA Bryant Bicentennial Concert, Bryant Library 10/30/94

and SUNY-Purchase 11/3/94; recorded on Capstone CPS 8623

The William Cullen Bryant Bicentennial Concert

by The Long Island Composers Alliance

Longest Stairs, The, op. 117

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setting of poem by Norman Rosten

from his Songs for Patricia

composed in his memory, 3/95 (81”)

version for voice & piano, premiered by

Helene Williams & composer, BargeMusic Bkln 4/4/95;

version for piano alone premiered 5/17/95

Borough Hall, Brooklyn

Song, op. 120A

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2003 completion of 1925 13-measure sketch by Marc Blitztsein

on poem by Rupert Brooke, for Voice & Piano;

also arr. for SATB & Piano;

premiered by Helene Williams & Leonard Lehrman

and recorded by them 10/9/04 in Boulder, CO;

released on Original Cast Records OC 6127

The Marc Blitzstein Centennial Concert CD;

choral version premiered at Blitzstein Centennial concerts,

Feb.-Mar. 2005

Wild Nights, op. 137 #3

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setting of poem (#249) by Emily Dickinson for voice & piano

#3 (of 3) from Emily Dickinson Song Cyclette, op. 137

premiered by Helene Williams & composer, 2/99 (LICA)

recorded on Capstone #CPS-8667:

Helene Williams sings More Songs of Love by LICA Composers

Faith, op. 138

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setting of text by James Baldwin (3′)

for solo voice or SATB chorus & piano;

choral premiere, Malverne Community Presbyterian Church 11/15/98

solo premiere, Helene Williams & composer, Hofstra (LICA) 1/17/99

also sung by Faith Steinsnyder with composer at piano

8/16/09, 8/20/09, 8/8/10, 1/23/11 (Lehrman birthday concerts)

Equatorial, op. 149 #18

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setting of poem by Ian McBryde (3’15”),

#18 (finale) from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Woman’s Song, op. 149 #17

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setting of poem by Judith Wright (2’30”) –

quotes (Schubert’s) “Death and the Maiden,”

as the poem does; #17 from An Australian Odyssey,

op. 149; premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Portrait, op. 149 #16

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setting of poem by Judith Wright (1’40”),

#16 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

fairytale, op. 149 #15

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setting of unpunctuated, uncapitalized prose poem

by Ania Walwicz (8’25”),

#15 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney, 1/9/02,

and at Jan Hus Playhouse, NYC, 4/27/08,

co-sponsored by Vox Novus & Remarkable Theatre Brigade

Erstwhile, op. 149 #14

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setting of poem by Chris Wallace-Crabbe,

#14 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Crosstalk, op. 149 #13

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setting of poem by John Tranter (2’10”),

#13 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney, Jan. 9, 2002

Antipodean Heads, op. 149 #11

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setting of poem by John Forbes (1’50”),

#11 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney, Jan. 9, 2002

After Babel, op. 149 #8

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setting of poem by Peter Goldsworthy,

#8 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Missing Him, op. 149 #7

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setting of poem by Jordie Albiston (1’30”),

#7 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Fugue, op. 149 #5

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setting of eponymous poem by Alison Croggon (2’05”),

#5 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

No More Boomerang, op. 149 #3

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setting of poem by aboriginal Australian poet,

Oodgeroo Noonuccal (2’20”);

#3 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed at Sydney Naturally, Jan. 19, 2002,

on 2 Melbourne radio broadcasts,

Dec. 30, 2001 & Jan. 5, 2002;

and at Jan Hus Playhouse, NYC, Apr. 27, 2008,

co-sponsored by Vox Novus & Remarkable Theatre Brigade

I Remember, [Sonnetina #12], op. 149 #2

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setting of sonnet by Jacob Rosenberg,

premiered by Effie Apelast-Weinberg & composer,

CAMI Hall, Oct. 23, 2001;

also performed by Helene Williams & composer,

Theodor Herzl Club, N. Caulfield, Melbourne 12/31/01,

and at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney, Jan. 9, 2002;

#2 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149 –

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002

Love Sonnet #9 [Sonnetina #11], op. 149 #1

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setting of sonnet by Edith Speers, for soprano & piano;

#1 from An Australian Odyssey, op. 149;

premiered by Helene Williams & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY Dec. 2, 2001,

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002;

also performed by them at Hakoah Club, Bondi, Sydney,

Jan. 9, 2002; Sydney Naturally, Jan. 19, 2002;

and on 2 Melbourne radio broadcasts, Dec. 30, 2001

Australian Odyssey, An, op. 149

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18-song cycle on poems by Australian poets (42’30”):

Edith Speers (#1), Jacob Rosenberg (#2),

Oodgeroo Noonuccal (#3), Alex Skovron (#4 & 6),

Alison Croggon (#5), Jordie Albiston (#7),

Peter Goldsworthy (#8), Judith Wright (#9, 16 & 17),

Michael Dransfield (#10), John Forbes (#11 & 12),

John Tranter (#13), Chris Wallace-Crabbe (#14),

Ania Walwicz (#15), Ian McBryde (#18);

for Helene [Williams], to Alex Skovron;

premiered by her & composer,

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY, Dec. 2, 2001

Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran, Melbourne, Jan. 5, 2002