This Canopy of Trees — Hester’s aria from Act II, Scene 1

2008, rev. 2016, final aria revisions 2018 | soprano/piano

From The Scarlet Letter

Libretto by David Mason

At the beginning of Act Two of The Scarlet Letter, Hester has entered the forest with her daughter, Pearl, hoping to meet Arthur Dimmesdale on his return from a ministering errand. At this point, she has just been confronted by her estranged husband. Roger Chillingworth, who has uncovered the adulterous truth about the young minister. Here, outside the confines of the town, Hester begins to question the moral strictures that have governed her life. — David Mason

This aria is for sale with the following options:

Hard copy available through Glendower Jones and classicalvocalrep.com. Click here to purchase.

PDF copy available through MusicaNeo. Click here to purchase.

This Is Just To Say

1996 | soprano/piano

Poem by William Carlos Williams.

Song 2 of Plums

Errata

Some newer editions may already have these corrections.

• m. 3, last note left hand should be an F natural NOT an F sharp

• m. 11, first beat left hand is an F natural (and there should be a courtesy accidental for clarity)

• m. 12, in the piano part, in the right hand, the last note is a B natural. A courtesy accidental

will be added.

• The last "mmm" does not occur in the original poem. It is my addition. 

This Morning

2004 | soprano/piano

Poem by Jama Jandrokovic

Song 3 of Five Lovers

Commissioned by Jama Jandrokovic

Errata

Some newer editions may already have these corrections.

• opening tempo is closer to half note=69
• m. 20: “noth-ing” should now be sung on two 8ths tied to a quarter, and then rest
• m. 28: voice: “pack-age” should now be sung on 2 8ths tied to a quarter (or if you’d prefer to a dotted half, but definitely rest starting on measure 29)
• m. 30: tempo should be “Slightly Slower” (not “A Tempo”)

This Space

2000, rev. 2005 | bass/piano, also mezzo/piano version

Poem by Thomas Lux, 2 minutes long.

Click here to purchase an mp3 from Amazon.

Thoughts

2010 | boychoir/tenor/clarinet and piano. Also available in version for tenor/mezzo-soprano/clarinet and piano.

From the Vedem oratorio and the Vedem song cycle

Poem by Hanus Hachenburg

ERRATA VEDEM ORATORIO and VEDEM SONGS

For the song THOUGHTS

Change original tempo to quarter=92; also change marking to 92 at m. 32

m. 82 add forte to Mezzo and Clarinet and Piano in full score

m. 88 remove metronome marking

Thumbelina Songs

1989, rev. 1995 | SATB with piano (not yet published)

Lyrics by Lori Laitman and Wendy-Marie Goodman, based on the fairytale.

A Tale to Tell, Alone, Fine Family, I’m Falling in Love, King Song, I am the Mole, Wish Song, My Son, Thumbelina, Wedding Day

'Tis Philosophy

2011 | All voice types/piano

Poem by Emily Dickinson, about 1 minute in length

To A Loose Woman

1991-1992 | soprano/piano

Poem by Sara Teasdale

Song 6 of The Metropolitan Tower and Other Songs

To a Lost Child — Levi's aria from Uncovered — Scene 7: Secrets

2020 | tenor/piano or tenor/clarinet/violin/cello/piano

Libretto by Leah Lax

After Leah aborts their child, Levi imagines it was a boy. He imagines taking him to synagogue and teaching his son his first prayers, and grieves. 

Sheet music for sale through MusicaNeo (available through my homepage).

To a Poor Old Woman

1996 | soprano/piano

Poem by William Carlos Williams.

Song 1 of Plums

Errata

Some newer editions may already have these corrections.

• The measure numbers starting on p. 3 are incorrect. These will be fixed in the new printed copy.
• m. 11 (incorrectly numbered m. 22), the last note of the piano part should be written enharmonically as an A flat.
• Regarding the line "to the one half sucked out in her hand"..... the line layout in the original poem indicates to me that it is one half of a plum that is "sucked out in her hand." Not a plum that is "half-sucked out in her hand."
• Four measures from the end, on the word "air," there should not be a decrescendo.