Sojourn

Sojourn “Reflections on Thoreau”

"I want to go soon and live away by the pond,
where I shall hear only the wind whispering among the reeds.
I don't want to feel as if my life were a sojourn any longer.
It is time now that I begin to live."
Henry David Thoreau, Journal 1837-1861

The world premiere of Joseph Schwantner's Sojourn: "Reflections on Thoreau" for the Palm Beach Symphony is graciously commissioned by
Ambassador Bonnie McElveen-Hunter in honor of Dr. Joel Kassimir.

Sojourn, “Reflections on Thoreau” is a musical journey inspired by the words of Henry David Thoreau, an essayist, author, poet and philosopher who produced a voluminous series of introspective journals and other writings. He recounts his daily everyday life with a transcendental spirit and vivid observations on nature and its relationship to man. Frequent references to music occur in his writing, “Music is the sound of the circulation in nature’s veins.”
Thoreau’s words form an evocative poetic landscape for musical ideas that help shape the trajectory of the music,
“through this dark veil, To our music Time will linger, And earth opens wide her ear, the poet...sets his sighs to music, Even music may be intoxicating.”

Sojourn unfolds as a single extended movement with several diverse musical elements that gradually appear. An expressive elegiac section first introduced by the strings becomes increasingly intense as the full orchestra joins in. This is followed by a repeated rhythmic gesture played by three bass drums, timpani, piano and harp. A third element is a four-note arch-like motive set in a series of contrapuntal textures that are woven and transformed throughout the work. Also, three percussionists, piano and harp combine to form an expanded percussion ensemble.