Shop for Music
About the Composer
Martha Hill Duncan
Graphite Publishing
Roadside Flowers
A gorgeous duet for two sopranos and piano where both singers and pianist are highlighted equally.
2 sopranos, piano
“Roadside Flowers” is a gorgeous duet for two sopranos and piano where both singers and pianist are highlighted equally. With lyrical melody lines, free-spirited accompaniment and beautiful text, this duet is a real winner with singers of all ages and development. Well suited for a multitude of performance occasions too!
Composer’s Notes
My inspiration for Singing in the Northland began in 1998 when my daughter Claire was about twelve years old. Her voice teacher, Dr. Nadia Izbitskaya, lamented the lack of expressive contemporary vocal music for young singers and presented me with the challenge of writing for my own daughter. As a transplanted Texan, living in Canada, I decided to concentrate on Canadian poetry and the first song I wrote was “Quiet,” with poetry by Marjorie Pickthall. The others in the collection followed over the years as my daughter grew up and continued singing. This collection is dedicated to Claire for her patience, humour, insights and moreover, her beautiful and expressive voice.
Text
We are the roadside flowers,
Straying from garden grounds,–
Lovers of idle hours,
Breakers of ordered bounds.
If only the earth will feed us,
If only the wind be kind,
We blossom for those who need us,
The stragglers left behind.
And lo, the Lord of the Garden,
He makes his sun to rise,
And his rain to fall with pardon
On our dusty paradise.
On us he has laid the duty,–
The task of the wandering breed,–
To better the world with beauty,
Wherever the way may lead.
Who shall inquire of the season,
Or question the wind where it blows?
We blossom and ask no reason.
The Lord of the Garden knows.
– Bliss Carman (1862-1929)
$3.50 per licensed PDF
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.