Epitaph for a Darling Lady
Ensemble
High Voice (Soprano or Tenor), Clarinet, and Piano
Duration
Approx. 4 minutes
Recordings
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Score
Notes
Epitaph for a Darling Lady is a bittersweet homage to life’s impermanence and the preciousness with which we choose (or not) to hold each passing moment. Inspired by Dorothy Parker’s poem’s lively spirit, snappy wit, and underlying melancholy, I composed Epitaph for a Darling Lady in 2012 during my first summer studying at Brevard Music Center.
The piece opens with a jittering motive and swirling melodies representing life’s fleeting and whimsical moments. The addition of the clarinet serves as a timbral bridge between the lyrical voice and the resonant backdrop created by the piano. Their interplay creates textures reminiscent of “foolish whorls and tassels,” mirroring the fanciful, transient nature of “little castles” built out of sand. Brighter harmonies cascade in a “rainbow clutter,” reflecting the mundane rhythm of each “shiny day.” Yet, beneath its alluring exterior, I underpinned Epitaph for a Darling Lady with melancholic harmonies that echo the certainty of the sands “spinning down the gutter.” The piece ends with a moment of poignant acceptance, reflected in the gift of a “red young rose.” The music’s final echoes confirm the lady’s contentment, her realization that even in decay, beauty remains certain.
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Texts
Epitaph for a Darling Lady by Dorothy Parker
All her hours were yellow sands,
Blown in foolish whorls and tassels;
Slipping warmly through her hands;
Patted into little castles.
Shiny day on shiny day
Tumble in a rainbow clutter,
As she flipped them all away,
Sent them spinning down the gutter.
Leave for her a red young rose,
Go your way, and save your pity;
She is happy, for she knows
That her dust is very pretty.
World Premiere
Samantha Leibowitz, Luke Ellard, and Ryan Laney on March 22, 2014 at The University of Texas at Austin Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music Recital Studio.
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