Poetics was composed during 2012 for Heidi von Bernewitz and
Rob Nairn and recorded by them on the Emeritus Recordings CD "The
Matrimonial Duos". During 2011, the composer took a short form poetry
class with Ann Metlay through the Osher Lifelong Learning Center at
Yavapai College. Both the forms and the resulting poems, created by the
composer, became the inspiration for the composition. It is suggested
that the poems be read before each movement.
I. Pleiades - A pleiades has seven lines with six syllables per line.
Each line starts with the same letter. This was translated into a music
form by having seven phrases, each with six notes and all starting on
the note "A".
II. Shadorma - A shadorma has 6 line stanzas where the lines have a
syllable count of 3,5,3,3,7,5 respectively. The syllable count was
translated into meter therefore creating 3/8, 5/8, two measures of 3/8,
7/8, and 5/8 resulting in 6 measure phrases.
III. Triolet A triolet is a rhyming poem with 8 lines in this pattern;
A, B, rhyme with A, A, rhyme with A, rhyme with B, A, B.
IV. Bantu - The bantu originated from Swahili speakers therefore
incorporating the idea of call and response. The stanzas are couplets
where the first line is more metaphorical and the second line more
concrete. Call and response between each instrument permeates this
movement with alternations of which instrument is the leading voice.
V. Cinquain - A cinquain is an American Poem invented by Adelaide
Crapsey. It is five lines long and uses a syllable count of 2,4,6,8,2 to
determine the line breaks. Three possible variants are mirror
2,4,6,8,2,4,6,8,2; butterfly 2,3,6,8,2,2,4,6,8,2; and reversal
2,8,6,4,2. Mirror and reversal are combined in this poem therefore
creating a syllable count of 2,4,6,8,2,8,6,4,2. The syllable count is
reflected in the number of notes in each phrase.
VI. Gogyohku A gogyohku is a Japanese poem that does not have a
restricted syllable count and is used to record a fleeting moment. The
music reflects the two parts of the poem, first the tragedy and second,
the prayer.