MICHAEL-THOMAS FOUMAI
COMPOSER
THE BURNING HEART
YEAR
2013
INSTRUMENTATION
Soprano, Harp & Strings
DURATION
12 minutes
TEXT
Various Japanese Poets,
Trans. Kenneth Rexroth (English)
MOVEMENTS
1. Mist
2. Us
3. Have I learned to understand you?
4. Ghost
5. Night without end
6. The heart of man
FIRST PERFORMANCE
March 17, 2013
Antonina Chekhovskaya (Sop)
Composer Conducting
University of Michigan Strings
PROGRAM NOTE
The Burning Heart consist of settings of Japanese love poems (Haiku) translated by Kenneth Rexroth and are taken from Burning Heart Anthologies, four large volumes for different voice types and piano. This version of the Burning Heart are for soprano and strings with harp. The poems express in very little words, young and mature love, conveying intimacy, sensuality and angst.
RELATED WORKS
The Burning Heart for Solo Piano
The Burning Heart Anthology I (Tenor & Piano)
The Burning Heart Anthology II (Soprano & Piano)