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Compose Like a Girl
When I Become an Old Woman
Sherry Blevins
Fun, saucy, and a little naughty: all the good things we plan to be when one day we too are old!
for SSA choir, piano, opt. body percussion, staging suggestions
This fun, light-hearted piece celebrates the freedom of growing older and embracing your inner quirks. The piece features original poetry by the composer, Sherry Blevins, and also includes optional body percussion and staging to fully engage singers and audiences in the delightful humor of the piece.
Sherry Blevins is an award-winning composer/lyricist, conductor/clinician, and an award-winning music educator. Her first piece was published in 2018. Since then, more than 17 of her pieces have been published, and she is now with four publishing houses including Hinshaw, Fred Bock, BriLee, and JH Music. Since then, she has enjoyed composing for and with a variety of singers and ensembles across North America. Sherry has a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a master’s degree in music education from Appalachian State University. Her hope is that whether through composing or teaching, that the music she shares will bring hope, life, and light to others. To read more about Sherry or to contact her, go to sherryblevinsmusic.com.
Composer’s Notes
“When I Become an Old Woman” has had a very long journey becoming what it is today. In 2017, my dear mentor, friend, and amazing operatic soprano, Rebecca Cook-Carter, asked me to compose a song cycle for her based on the famous poem by English poet, Jenny Joseph called “Warning,” a.k.a., “When I Am an Old Woman (I Shall Wear Purple).” At this time, I had only composed one other piece as I had just discovered my passion for composing, but I was excited at the prospect and told her I would have to get Jenny Joseph’s permission to set the text. So, I wrote to Ms. Joseph’s literary agency. After some time, they said that she wanted to hear the music before she agreed. So, I got to work and soon after, Rebecca (Becky) and my friend and extraordinary pianist, Mark Burleson, made a recording to send to her.
Then we waited… and waited… and waited some more! Finally, I reached out to Ms. Joseph’s agency to find out if we could proceed. (Becky wanted to perform the work for the college where she was Opera Director.) Sadly, her agency answered that Ms. Joseph had passed away and they were sorry, but permission would not be granted as the rights were tied up in her estate. Saddened at her passing and the thought that I wouldn’t be allowed to continue spreading her delightful poetry through music, I decided not to give up. At least twice a year after that, I would email and ask again. I got “no” after “no” until finally, in 2023, I got a yes!!! By this time, Becky was no longer at the college, so we asked for permission to have her perform the song cycle in a Steinway Gallery Concert. They said “yes” to that too!!! I was then accepted into a composing institute called Opera Lucca in Lucca, Italy in the summer of 2023, so I asked if we could premiere the music there as well and they said “yes” again!!!
After having the entire song cycle called “Warning” performed, first in Italy, and then in a Steinway concert, I thought that perhaps this music should be in the hands of adult treble choirs. So, I reached out to one of the best conductors of adult treble choirs that I know, Iris Levine of VOX Femina Los Angeles, and asked her if she thought there would be any interest in having the song cycle scored for SSA chorus. She was kind enough to spend some time with the music; then she wrote back and asked if I would score the first movement for her choir. I was so elated! I contacted Ms. Joseph’s agency one last time for permission and received a resounding “Thank you, but no.”
I spent one full day with a broken heart, and the next day, my composing teacher, Raphael Fusco and my wife, Ruth both reminded me that I am a lyricist and that I should create my OWN lyrics. So, I did! And the result is the saucy and fun-filled piece you see before you that is inspired by the late English poet, Jenny Joseph and dedicated to Becky.
– Sherry Blevins
Text
When I become an old woman,
When I become an old woman,
I’ll be magnetic.
It’s genetic.
When I become an old woman,
Oh, an old woman,
I’ll be vivacious,
Extra loquacious.
I’ll lose my filter,
And say exactly what I’m thinking.
I’ll learn to tango.
I will dance like nobody’s watching.
(Twirl like no one’s watching.)
I’ll never worry when people pass judgment.
Poor saps don’t know what they’re missing!
I’ll give up plucking,
And embrace my inner Yeti/Sasquatch.
I will wear stretchy pants,
And never bother with zippers or button flies.
(Who has time for buttons?)
I’ll toss my bras/heels away!
Say goodbye to my underwire prison/
this medieval torture!
When I become an old woman
My purse could hold the kitchen sink, (the whole sink!)
It will be hot pink. (My purse will be hot pink!)
When I become an old woman,
Oh, an old woman,
I will be brassy.
And oh, so sassy, (oh, so very sassy!)
When I become an old woman
I will dance the tango!
– Sherry Blevins
$1.95 per licensed PDF
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