Premiered by Stephanie Youell, voice, and Matthew Quayle, piano, Cincinnati, Spring 2001.
Text and Music by Matthew Quayle.
Blues was an experiment of sorts, an attempt to incorporate a musical theater vocalist into a concert "art song" setting. The singer vacillates between emotional extremes over an unyieldingly cheery ostinato accompaniment. The vocalist must be adept throughout a wide 2.5 octave register, from low chest voice F# to a high D# above the staff.
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