Tear
on a Child's Cheek
for mezzo-soprano and piano (soprano version
available)[© 1987 & 1988]
by Sally Reid, composer, ASCAP
Duration: 5-6 minutes
Program Notes:
Tear on a Child's Cheek is a set of five haiku for
mezzo-soprano and piano (there is also a soprano version). The
texts were written by Joy Shieman of Los Altos, California (used
by permission) and were published by Charles Tuttle Co. in Borrowed
Water: a book of American haiku in 1966.
The haiku is a Japanese poetic form composed of seventeen syllables.
These musical settings are likewise brief and focused. Although
characterized by many major sevenths, tritones and quartal harmonies,
the settings remain quite tonal. The melodic line is approachablle
and suitable for a college student vocallist. "Children"
is the theme of the set.
The work won First Prize in Category B of Mu Phi Epsilon's
Composition Competition in 1987.
Selected Performance History:
- September, 1997 - Performance of Tear on a Child's
Cheek (soprano version) by George Washington University
faculty celebrating the Gelman Library's acquisition of the American
Women Composer archives.
- April, 1995 - European Premiére performance of Tear
on a Child's Cheek (soprano version) by Echosphere on
1995 Vienna Congress on Women in Music: Vienna, Austria. (Tear
on a Child's Cheek , a set of five songs, was originally
written for mezzo-soprano and piano.)
- February, 1994 - Performance of Tear on a Child's Cheek.
, five miniatures for mezzo-soprano and piano, sponsored
by the Texas Composers Forum at the Dallas Public Library in
Dallas, Texas.
I.
II.III. IV. V.
- February 1992 - Performance of Tear on a Child's Cheek
for mezzo-soprano and piano (Judith Gans and Judith Solomon)
on Region VI SCI Conference recital at Texas Christian University.
- April 1988 - Premiére performance of Tear
on a Child's Cheek at Abilene Christian University; Julie
Pruett, mezzo, and David Brock, piano.
I.II. III. IV. V.
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updated 12/9/99
Sally Reid, reid@acu.edu
Tear on a Child's Cheek