Fantasy Arabesque
Sara Teasdale’s poem “A Fantasy” is densely packed with beautiful and evocative imagery. Writing a melody and development of harmony that mimics the beauty of a lush natural environment seemed the most appropriate way to infuse the text into the music and is the source of the Arabesque portion of the title. An Arabesque is a design containing many interweaving, flowing lines which create a rhythmic, dense texture resembling the growth of vines or foliage. The flowing, colorful, dense textures of this piece are intended to reflect a deep and intrinsic human connection to nature. The piano accompaniment is both fluid and dynamic, helping to support the choral material and provide embellishment and contrast.
A Fantasy - Sara Teasdale
Her voice is like clear water
That drips upon a stone
In forests far and silent
Where Quiet plays alone.
Her thoughts are like the lotus
Abloom by sacred streams
Beneath the temple arches
Where Quiet sits and dreams.
Her kisses are the roses
That glow while dusk is deep
In Persian garden closes
Where Quiet falls asleep.
Fantasy Arabesque was premiered by the Edmonds Community College Symphonic Choir in 2017 under the direction of Kirk Marcy. The piece was also performed at Whitworth University by an ensemble of vocalists from the Whitworth Choir for Blake’s Junior Recital in 2019. Shortly thereafter, Fantasy Arabesque was performed in Seattle by the Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Loren Ponten as the winner of the 2019 Robert Scandrett Memorial Composition Award. The performance by members of the Whitworth Choir is available for listening here.
For questions about purchasing and performing this piece, please contact Blake directly using the contact form.