Magis: Songs on Poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins, I. "As Kingfishers Catch Fire" by Ryan Olivier (Excerpts)
2nd Annual Melos New Music Festival, San Francisco - August 19, 2011
Magis, for soprano and chamber ensemble
Magis is a setting of poems by the English Jesuit Gerard Manley Hopkins. The title is a Latin term meaning "the more," which was used by Ignatius to remind himself and those around him to always contemplate what more they could do for God and consequently for others. The three songs you will hear tonight are dedicated to those in my life who have always encouraged me to do more for God and for others through my music. The first song, "As Kingfisher's Catch Fire," deals with the idea of inscape, a term Hopkins coined to describe each things individuality and distinctiveness. Hopkins contemplates the beauty of individuality found in nature and the joy of Christ dwelling in each unique creature. This song is dedicated to my grandparents John and Vivian Maloney and my late grandmother, Joan Maloney, who have always encouraged me to be myself. The second song, "Bright Wings," is a setting of Hopkins's poem "God's Grandeur." This was the first Hopkins poem I read, and it was the impetus for the entire work. I wrote the song for the wonderful soprano Anne Marie Frohnmayer in 2010 and after hearing how beautifully she sang it, was inspired to write more songs for her to sing. Anne Marie has been an inspiration in my work and in my life, and this song is dedicated to her. It speaks of God's presence in the world around us and reminds us that if we get lost in our own man-made world, nature is always there to bring us back. The last song, "Heaven-Haven," is dedicated to my grandmother Evelyn Olivier and in memory of my recently departed grandfather Edward Olivier Jr. While I had contemplated setting "Heaven-Haven" as part of the Magis collection, it wasn't until after my grandfather passed in April that I was inspired to close the cycle with this poem. Upon reflecting on the life of my grandparents from southern Louisiana, I was inspired by the selfless decisions they made in their lives for the good of their family and those around them. "Heaven-Haven" is a simple poem of discernment in which the author chooses a life that he hopes will ultimately lead him to heaven. Each one of the aforementioned dedicatees have had a strong spiritual presence in my life and this work as a whole is dedicated to those who have always pushed me to consider what more my music could do for others. I am eternally grateful for their guidance and support throughout my artistic career and I could never thank them enough.
I. As Kingfishers Catch Fire - Gerard Manley Hopkins
As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves—goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is me: for that I came.
I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is—
Christ—for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces.
Ryan Olivier (b. 1985) grew up as a military brat in the South. Born in New Orleans, he eventually returned to his birthplace to pursue compositional studies at Loyola University New Orleans College of Music. Upon graduation, he made his great journey north of the Mason-Dixon line to study at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University in Philadelphia where he is currently a doctoral student studying with Maurice Wright, Matthew Greenbaum and Richard Brodhead. Ryan has also studied with Samuel Adler in Berlin and with Kevin Puts and Robert Aldridge at the Brevard Music Center. His music has been performed by the Momenta Quartet and the Cygnus Ensemble, and his various interests have led him to work with a vast array of media including electronics, video, and dance. His electroacoustic work has been featured at Miami's 12 Nights Festival, Pennsylvania State University's Crosscurrents Festival, Temple University's Cybersounds Concert Series, the New York City Electrocacoustic Music Festival and SEAMUS 2011. www.ryanolivier.com
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Amy Foote, soprano
Justin Lee, flute
Jonathan Szin, clarinet
Cassandra Bequary, violin
Anne Suda, cello
Daniel Temkin, percussion
Preben Antonsen, piano
Greg Simon, conductor
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For more information, please visit http://www.melosmusic.com
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