Composer

:

Lori Laitman

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

2002

Average_duration

:

2:01

Wider Than the Sky is a song cycle composed by Lori Laitman, an American composer known for her vocal music. The cycle was composed in 2000 and premiered in 2001 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It consists of six movements, each based on a poem by Emily Dickinson. The first movement, "I Dwell in Possibility," is a lively and optimistic piece that sets the tone for the cycle. The second movement, "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" is a playful and humorous piece that explores the theme of identity. The third movement, "The Soul selects her own Society," is a more introspective piece that explores the idea of individuality and choice. The fourth movement, "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain," is a haunting and intense piece that explores the theme of death and the afterlife. The fifth movement, "I measure every Grief I meet," is a reflective piece that explores the theme of empathy and the human experience. The final movement, "Hope is the thing with feathers," is a hopeful and uplifting piece that explores the theme of resilience and the power of hope. Overall, Wider Than the Sky is a beautiful and poignant cycle that showcases Laitman's skill as a composer and her ability to capture the essence of Dickinson's poetry. The music is lyrical and expressive, with a strong emphasis on the voice and the text. The cycle is a testament to the enduring power of Dickinson's poetry and the ability of music to bring it to life.

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