A performer's guide to Gwyneth Walker's settings of poetry by Lucille Clifton- No Ordinary Woman! and Three Songs for Lucille
No Ordinary Woman! is atypical of Walker’s style in that the composer employs jazz elements as the building blocks for this composition. From ballads to scat singing, each song is representative of a different style of jazz. The cycle, consisting of five songs, explores the poet’s journey of contemplation regarding various aspects of her life, predominantly her physical appearance. In No Ordinary Woman! and Three Songs for Lucille, the poet reflects on and ultimately celebrates her physical appearance. This document contains information about the lives and works of composer Gwyneth Walker and poet Lucille Clifton, the commissions, premieres, compositional processes, and comments regarding performance issues are included. A discussion of each poem and performance suggestions for each song in No Ordinary Woman! and Three Songs for Lucille is provided. Appendices include a discography of recordings currently available, a current listing of song cycles in the composer’s catalogue, and a list of current publishers of the composer’s songs.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations