The Two Legacies

Composer: Barna Szabó
Lyricist: Emily Dickinson

Words from composer:

This obscure, gloomy poem can be explained in two different ways. Whether the hidden dedicatee is her lost child or a strong, forbidden and hopeless love with a married priest, the poetess portrays her deep despair and depression. As for the musical background, I decided to pair these lines with a deliberate evocation of the blues – in both senses of the word, getting the blues here by the jazzy chords and style. The piece has been commissioned and premiered by Capella Silentium, this excellent Hungarian vocal group of which I have also been a member for many years as a bass-baritone.