“In exploring the remarkable work in 2013’s River of Words collection, I was immediately inspired by Sophie Anderson’s beautiful set of short poems, Ten Ways of Looking at the Sun. The poems are full of powerful imagery and emotion, and the variety of moods and perspectives suggested to me a musical landscape of multiple contrasting sections sewn into a single continuous journey.” Composer Jordan Nelson deftly creates those contrasts using varying dynamics, tempos, keys and compositional forms as he weaves several of the short texts into his complex and melodic piece. Our Only Sun begins with just a few voices and simple piano accompaniment, adding voices gradually to illustrate the opening text, “one of many stars in faraway galaxies.” Nelson uses the same text to bring the piece to a stirring, unified conclusion.
Jordan Nelson, a native of Swarthmore, PA, is already a seasoned composer, in addition to being active as a singer, pianist, and arranger. His compositions have been performed widely and have included everything from orchestral works to chamber music for both acoustic and electro-acoustic ensembles to a recent work for piano and live computer processing, entitled Greetings! From Los Angeles. In addition to his YIY—CEC commission, his upcoming projects include a set of miniatures for orchestra and a work for violin and chamber ensemble. Jordan is currently pursuing a D.M.A. in Composition at the University Of Southern California Thornton School Of Music, where he also earned a Masters degree in Composition. He was awarded his B.A. in music with distinction from Yale. Recently, Jordan joined the faculty of the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, where he teaches in the Department of Music Theory. Visit Jordan’s website to get to know him as a composer and a performer.
Sophie Anderson, who composed her Haiku-like set of poems while in Middle School, is also a cellist. She was thrilled to learn that her poetry was being set to music, and was enthusiastic about the sections of her piece that Nelson chose to set. “I am deeply interested in science, especially physics and astronomy, and truly enjoy star gazing. I often think about the idea that there are an incredible number of stars, that we don’t yet know very much about the universe, and that we have so much to discover.”
I. | Sometimes the rain pours Sometimes the sun isn’t there Earth is dark and dank Gray clouds of winter Replacing our bright and beautiful star |
II. | Scorching and burning Beating down on the desert Harsh and unforgiving |
III. | Gently opening rosebuds Born for the first time in months Turning leaves lively green |
IV. | Glistening on the undulating surface Blinding passerby With the mirror beauty of a summer |
V. | Ball of hydrogen Converting to helium |
VI. | Mighty omniscient ruler of the sky Powerful giant of the heavens Born every day Dies every night Immortal |
VII. | Through the melancholy rainy sky Comes a rainbow |
VIII. | Earth whips around Day and Night Day and Night |
IX. | Occasionally harsh But crucial to our feeble existences |
X. | One of many stars In faraway galaxies One of many stars But our only sun |
Sophie Anderson, age 13
Seattle, WA
2013