They Sang But Had Nor Human Tunes Nor Words

2019

Program Note

They Sang But Had Nor Human Tunes Nor Words
takes its title from the end of the poem “Cuchulain Comforted” by W.B. Yeats:
They sang, but had nor human tunes nor words Though all was done in common as before; They had changed their throats and had the
throats of birds.
Another passage of the poem was suggestive:
‘We thread the needles’ eyes, and all we do All must together do’….
The microtonal 19-note to the octave scale seized my imagination with its greatly expanded range of both consonance and dissonance over the common 12-note to the octave scale.
They Sang But Had Nor Human Tunes Nor Words
was written for Brightwork newmusic, and was largely composed during a residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. I am very grateful to VCCA for the gift of time and space.

About Eric Moe

Eric Moe (b. 1954), composer of what the NY Times has called “music of winning exuberance,” has received numerous grants and awards for his work, including the Lakond Award from…

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