Here's something you might be interested in.
If you sang in high school choir, any high school choir in any city or town, then one of your favorite choral pieces is Randal Thompson's "Frostiana".
In 1958, the town of Amherst commissioned Randal Thompson to compose a choral work to celebrate it's bicentennial.
Thompson and Robert Frost were friends and Frost had a long association with Amherst so there it was.
Thompson chose seven Frost poems and titled his piece, "Frostiana: Seven Country Songs."
To Thompson's credit, he went straight to what some consider the greatest poem to fall out of the pen of an American Poet.
Frostiana opens with "The Road Not Taken".
Now "The Road Not Taken" may not be the greatest poem written but it is safe to say it is the most popular. So where does Thompson go from there?
He rounds out the remaining six poems perfectly. He chooses light hearted and pastoral pieces concluding with the contemplative "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and the sublime "Choose Something Like a Star."
"Choose Something Like a Star" contains my favorite line of Frost poetry.
"Say something to us we can learn by heart and when alone repeat."
Frost was present for the premiere of Frostiana in October 1959. Some accounts have Frost rising to his feet at the conclusion and requesting the piece to be sung again.
Others have said that Frost did not hold the music in high regard.
Frost did stipulate that his poetry would not be set to music by any other composer. It is tempting to interpret that as Frost forbidding any other settings.
Perhaps Frost thought the music diminished his poetry, perhaps he thought the Thompson piece was magnificent and other attempts would be futile. We don't know.
Frost was a master of giving an opinion without tipping his hand.
The genius of Thompson's setting is the way it mirrors Frost's poetry.
Frostiana is immediately accessible to high school choirs but reveals a significant artistry when performed by professional, adult ensembles.
Frost's poetry is immediately accessible to those who aren't into poetry but contains immense wisdom when internalized and experienced by those willing to explore.
I've included the text to "Choose Something Like a Star" as it may not be as familiar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrXvOtsgADc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNDrMifZqLU
Choose Something Like a Star
by Robert Frost - 1947
O Star (the fairest one in sight), We grant your loftiness the right To some obscurity of cloud -- It will not do to say of night, Since dark is what brings out your light. Some mystery becomes the proud. But to be wholly taciturn In your reserve is not allowed.
Say something to us we can learn By heart and when alone repeat. Say something! And it says "I burn." But say with what degree of heat. Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade. Use language we can comprehend. Tell us what elements you blend.
It gives us strangely little aid, But does tell something in the end. And steadfast as Keats' Eremite, Not even stooping from its sphere, It asks a little of us here. It asks of us a certain height, So when at times the mob is swayed To carry praise or blame too far, We may choose something like a star To stay our minds on and be staid.
If you sang in high school choir, any high school choir in any city or town, then one of your favorite choral pieces is Randal Thompson's "Frostiana".
In 1958, the town of Amherst commissioned Randal Thompson to compose a choral work to celebrate it's bicentennial.
Thompson and Robert Frost were friends and Frost had a long association with Amherst so there it was.
Thompson chose seven Frost poems and titled his piece, "Frostiana: Seven Country Songs."
To Thompson's credit, he went straight to what some consider the greatest poem to fall out of the pen of an American Poet.
Frostiana opens with "The Road Not Taken".
Now "The Road Not Taken" may not be the greatest poem written but it is safe to say it is the most popular. So where does Thompson go from there?
He rounds out the remaining six poems perfectly. He chooses light hearted and pastoral pieces concluding with the contemplative "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and the sublime "Choose Something Like a Star."
"Choose Something Like a Star" contains my favorite line of Frost poetry.
"Say something to us we can learn by heart and when alone repeat."
Frost was present for the premiere of Frostiana in October 1959. Some accounts have Frost rising to his feet at the conclusion and requesting the piece to be sung again.
Others have said that Frost did not hold the music in high regard.
Frost did stipulate that his poetry would not be set to music by any other composer. It is tempting to interpret that as Frost forbidding any other settings.
Perhaps Frost thought the music diminished his poetry, perhaps he thought the Thompson piece was magnificent and other attempts would be futile. We don't know.
Frost was a master of giving an opinion without tipping his hand.
The genius of Thompson's setting is the way it mirrors Frost's poetry.
Frostiana is immediately accessible to high school choirs but reveals a significant artistry when performed by professional, adult ensembles.
Frost's poetry is immediately accessible to those who aren't into poetry but contains immense wisdom when internalized and experienced by those willing to explore.
I've included the text to "Choose Something Like a Star" as it may not be as familiar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrXvOtsgADc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNDrMifZqLU
Choose Something Like a Star
by Robert Frost - 1947
O Star (the fairest one in sight), We grant your loftiness the right To some obscurity of cloud -- It will not do to say of night, Since dark is what brings out your light. Some mystery becomes the proud. But to be wholly taciturn In your reserve is not allowed.
Say something to us we can learn By heart and when alone repeat. Say something! And it says "I burn." But say with what degree of heat. Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade. Use language we can comprehend. Tell us what elements you blend.
It gives us strangely little aid, But does tell something in the end. And steadfast as Keats' Eremite, Not even stooping from its sphere, It asks a little of us here. It asks of us a certain height, So when at times the mob is swayed To carry praise or blame too far, We may choose something like a star To stay our minds on and be staid.