‘Tangling with the Epic’ features Hanrahan
calendar icon14 Feb 2022
Lincoln, Neb.--The Glenn Korff School of Music presents “Tangling with the Epic” on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. in Westbrook Music Building Rm. 119. The concert is free and open to the public.
Edgar “Yip” Harburg, an American lyricist known as “Broadway’s social conscience,” said, “Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.”
This recital features the world premiere of a new song cycle for tenor, baritone and piano that does just that.
The cycle contains 12 songs, eight solo songs and four duets. The texts come from a poetic conversation between UNL Professor Kwame Dawes and Australian poet John Kinsella titled “Tangling with the Epic” (published by Peepal Press). The music is composed by Glenn Korff School of Music professor Tyler Goodrich White and Australian composer Diana Blom.
“For ‘Tangling,’ both Diana and I each selected three poems by Kwame and three by John. Each poet got one setting for tenor, one for baritone and one duet for both voices,” White said. “Kwame and John have been collaborating for a number of years now, and ‘Tangling with the Epic’ is their third book of poems together. The collaboration has been carried out via e-mail with each poet sending the other his offerings electronically.”
The work will be performed by Glenn Korff School of Music Associate Professor Kevin Hanrahan, tenor; Patrick McNally, baritone; and Robert Mills, piano.
“Blom and White capture the soul of Kinsella’s and Dawes’ text,” Hanrahan said. “It has not only been an exciting project to work on, it has been an enlightening experience as well. These songs will change your perceptions and perspectives on our state, national and international society.”
In addition to “Tangling with the Epic,” the concert will also include the U.S. premieres of “Life: Songs for Baritone” and “Modern Folksongs: for tenor” by Blom, as well as the Nebraska premiere of “Southern Songs” by Blom, featuring guest artist MeeAe Nam, soprano.