Against Still Life

2006, rev. 2017 | soprano/piano, also mezzo-soprano/piano version

Poem by Margaret Atwood

Song 1 of Orange Afternoon Lover

Jointly commissioned by The Howard Hanson Fund of The Eastman School and The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, and written expressly for soprano Eileen Strempel and pianist Sylvie Beaudette. This recording released spring 2010 on the Centaur Label: (In)Habitation: Settings of Margaret Atwood Poetry by American Women Composers.

Errata

Some newer editions may already have these corrections.

Soprano edition only: m. 160, Piano, Right Hand  - the rhythm should be the same as in m. 159, i.e., a dotted quarter, followed by an 8th note, followed by a quarter on beat 3.

I Am Sitting on the Edge

2006, rev. 2017 | soprano/piano, also mezzo-soprano/piano version

Poem by Margaret Atwood

Song 3 of Orange Afternoon Lover

Jointly commissioned by The Howard Hanson Fund of The Eastman School and The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, and written expressly for soprano Eileen Strempel and pianist Sylvie Beaudette. This recording released spring 2010 on the Centaur Label: (In)Habitation: Settings of Margaret Atwood Poetry by American Women Composers.

Errata

Some newer editions may already have these corrections.

• In the mezzo version, in m. 21, the B should be tied to a B.
• In the soprano version, in m. 21, the C sharp should be tied to a C sharp.

I Was Reading A Scientific Article

2006, rev. 2017 | soprano/piano, also mezzo-soprano/piano version

Poem by Margaret Atwood

Song 2 of Orange Afternoon Lover

Jointly commissioned by The Howard Hanson Fund of The Eastman School and The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, and written expressly for soprano Eileen Strempel and pianist Sylvie Beaudette. This recording released spring 2010 on the Centaur Label: (In)Habitation: Settings of Margaret Atwood Poetry by American Women Composers.

To hear Kitty Whately and Simon Lepper's rendition, recorded live at Wigmore Hall in February 2019, please click here.

Orange Afternoon Lover

Song cycle: Against Still Life; I Was Reading A Scientific Article; I Am Sitting on the Edge

2006, rev. 2017 | soprano/piano, also mezzo-soprano/piano version

Poems by Margaret Atwood, about 13 minutes long.

Jointly commissioned by The Howard Hanson Fund of The Eastman School and The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, and written expressly for soprano Eileen Strempel and pianist Sylvie Beaudette. This recording released spring 2010 on the Centaur Label: (In)Habitation: Settings of Margaret Atwood Poetry by American Women Composers.

Click here to watch soprano Maureen McKay and pianist/composer Lori Laitman perform this in concert from October 10, 2019.

Errata

SOME EDITIONS OF THE SOPRANO VERSION HAVE AN ERROR ON PAGE 11 of AGAINST STILL LIFE of the SOPRANO VERSION -- where the mezzo version was mistakenly inserted. The notes at the top of the page (m. 180) should start with Fs in the voice, not Eb. IF YOU HAVE A DEFECTIVE COPY, please email me at lori@artsongs.com and I will send you the correct file.

ALSO, I revised this score in 2017, and is in line to be beautified by my copyist, hopefully by 2020. In the meantime, if you have an older score but would like the revised version (even before it goes to the copyist), please email me at lori@artsongs.com and I will send you a copy. 

Some newer editions may already have these corrections.

Song 3,“I Am Sitting on the Edge"

• In the mezzo version, in m. 21, the B should be tied to a B.
• In the soprano version, in m. 21, the C sharp should be tied to a C sharp.