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A Season of Sensations for high voice and piano, 24 pgs
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: Vocal Collections
Levels: Advanced - Levels 9, 10, Diploma, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
- Mirage - Level 8
- High-Sun Summer - Level 7
- Daring To Be Found In A Summer Lawn - Level 9
Dreams occupy a significant part of our lives, but we don’t always remember or take note of them. These poems explore the sometimes strange flow of seemingly disconnected images across our subconscious, as well as the various sensations upon waking. The poems also feature our five senses, all of which somehow can be experienced even in our sleep.
- Meg Freer, Poet
Commissioned by Graphite Publishing ’s Art Song Consortium
PDFs Available at https://graphitepublishing.com
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A Season of Sensations for medium voice and piano, 24 pgs
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: Vocal Collections
Levels: Advanced - Levels 9, 10, Diploma, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
- Mirage - Level 8
- High-Sun Summer - Level 7
- Daring To Be Found In A Summer Lawn - Level 9
Dreams occupy a significant part of our lives, but we don’t always remember or take note of them. These poems explore the sometimes strange flow of seemingly disconnected images across our subconscious, as well as the various sensations upon waking. The poems also feature our five senses, all of which somehow can be experienced even in our sleep.
- Meg Freer, Poet
Commissioned by Graphite Publishing ’s Art Song Consortium
PDFs Available at https://graphitepublishing.com
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How Will the Rain Fall? Four Songs of Reflection for Med. High/High Voice, 40 pages
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: Vocal Collections, Vocal Solos
Levels: Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
These songs were composed over several years with all of the beautiful and thoughtful texts written by my friend and frequent collaborator Janet Windeler Ryan. She never fails to inspire me with her poetry and these four, in particular, truly moved me. M.H.Duncan
WALTZ FOR A FRIDAY EVENING, CSCalg Level 8
“Always thinking that the world should
be moving much slower
as music moves so our lives should too”
CLEAR SHINING MOMENT, RCM, CSCalg Level 8
“Always in my heart there’s a memory like a photograph…”
THE WAR MEMORIAL, CSCalg Level 8
“And with the dawn we shall remember…”
HOW WILL THE RAIN FALL?, CSCalg Level 8
“How will the rain fall upon my garden?“
RCM: The Royal Conservatory of Music
CSCalg: Contemporary Showcase Calgary
Individual E-Pieces available at http://marthahillduncan.com
Maple Dust and Other Delicacies for Med. High/HighVoice & Piano, 56 pgs
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: Vocal Collections
Levels: Advanced - Levels 9, 10, Diploma, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
MAPLE DUST, CSCalg, Level 5, poetry by Airlie Clarke, describes fall in Ancaster, Ontario and was a winner in the 2009 CFMTA Call for Compositions.
ODE TO A TIGER, CSCalg, Level 9, poetry by Amelia Forrester Petersen, was written for the poet’s great great grand-daughter, Madison.
LADY'S SLIPPER, Level 9, poetry by Carol Chitovas and THIS GIRL DANCED SPRING, Level 8, with lyrics by Kingston, Ontario songwriter Gary Rasberry, were originally composed for my women’s choir She Sings!
I wrote WHO IS SHE?, Level 8, for the 2010 campaign of the Ban Righ Foundation of Queen’s University and it is dedicated to all of the inspiring women in my life…there are many! M.H Duncan
CSCal: Contemporary Showcase Calgary
Individual E-Pieces available at http://marthahillduncan.com
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My Bird Is Singing
Colleen Athparia
Categories: Vocal Collections, Vocal Solos
Levels: Advanced - Levels 9, 10, Diploma, Beginner - Introductory, Level 1, Level 2, Intermediate - Levels 5, 6, Junior - Levels 3, 4, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
Description for “My Bird is Singing”
Pug- Wuddy- Wuddle (For Thimble)
Range C to E
This fun song is about a little dog who loves to splash and to sing when he finds a laughing flea! It features clapping, snapping, or tapping by the singer and pianist as well as spoken syllables with the fun words “wuddy-wuddle”! Level 2
Sometimes in the Dark
Range C to F (soprano)
A very lyrical song set to the ambiguous words “Sometimes you can hear more clearly in the dark.” Level 3
I love the Wind’s Song (available in 3 keys)
A major Range D to G (soprano)
G major Range C to F (mezzo-soprano)
F major Range Bb to Eb (contralto)
This beautifully lyrical song features many rising and falling intervals of 4ths. Level 4
Lost and Found
A beautiful poem of Love that lies “balanced between hope and loneliness” portrayed by a major/minor/major melody that expresses the surprises that Love may bring to all of us.
How the Leaves Play
Primarily based on a pentatonic scale with fluttering grace notes in the piano accompaniment, this poem portrays Leaves Playing, “seemingly happy, unknowing their freedom will make them die.”
Raindrops – Teardrops
Raindrops and Teardrops are represented by many falling 3rds and aspirated “p’s” as in drop-p-p-p, accompanied by a beautiful shimmering textured piano accompaniment.
Let us Leave behind this Day
This song was written Jan.6, 2024, after hearing of the unexpected demise of the poet, Robert Greenwood, who wrote this mature poem: “Let us snore our way toward death… and leave no sound, no footprint…” It ends with a beautiful melisma that weaves melodically with the piano.
There was a Time
This uplifting and nostalgic song is the longest (8 pages) in the collection. “There was a time when people loved, people were missed. There was a place of earth where people hugged, were full of mirth. There was the earth, it had a face, a place of grace for every race.” This folk-like waltz Refrain is contrasted with “But now the times have changed, and people seek and try to blame.” The Refrain returns with words of hope “to feel the spirits heal the earth…”
Mister Tree
This song portrays and ancient tree who “stood looking at the anguished angles of his people’s minds. He stood here, gnarled but not broken.” It uses onomatopoeic consonants in words like “cracking cracking crevices” and “the licking licking liquored glames.”
My Bird is Singing
The title song for this book is based on a lovely poem about the joys of singing. “Forget your wounds, open your ears, hear your eyes see, open your mouths and sing and sing!” This song develops flexibility in the voice with many 16th note melismas imitating the song of birds.
Ghosts fog the Mountains
This is the most challenging and contemporary piece in the collection, featuring many upward vocal glissandi spanning intervals of 7ths accompanied by piano tremolos and strumming the strings inside the piano. This creates a mystical aura of “snow sugared evergreens weaving faded tapestries among the pinecones.”
Saskatchewan Songs for High Voice, 56 pgs
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: Opera, Vocal Collections, Vocal Solos
Levels: Advanced - Levels 9, 10, Diploma, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
Working with contralto and poet Bonnie Cutsforth-Huber has been extremely rewarding for me and I hope that my music has fully showcased her evocative, imaginative and nostalgic poetry about growing up in Saskatchewan. Thanks to Clarisse Tonigussi for her suggestions in the nigh transpositions. M.H. Duncan
Level 8, RCM, CSS: SASKATCHEWAN LESSONS
Level 9, CSS: PRAIRIE LILY
Level 10, CSS: OUTSIDE TO PLAY ON A WINTER'S DAY, BIKE RIDE IN THE COUNTRY, I AM A FARMER'S DAUGHTER
RCM: The Royal Conservatory of Music
CSS: Contemporary Showcase Syllabus
Contemporary Showcase Calgary Staged Works: Opera - all
Individual E-Pieces available at http://marthahillduncan.com
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Saskatchewan Songs for Low Voice, 56 pgs
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: Opera, Vocal Collections, Vocal Solos
Levels: Advanced - Levels 9, 10, Diploma, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
Working with contralto and poet Bonnie Cutsforth-Huber has been extremely rewarding for me and I hope that my music has fully showcased her evocative, imaginative and nostalgic poetry about growing up in Saskatchewan. M.H. Duncan
Level 8, RCM, CSS: SASKATCHEWAN LESSONS
Level 9, CSS: PRAIRIE LILY
Level 10, CSS: OUTSIDE TO PLAY ON A WINTER'S DAY, BIKE RIDE IN THE COUNTRY, I AM A FARMER'S DAUGHTER
RCM: The Royal Conservatory of Music
CSS: Contemporary Showcase Syllabus
Contemporary Showcase Calgary Staged Works: Opera - all
Individual E-Pieces available at Martha Hill Duncan
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Searching the Painted Sky, Imaginative Art Songs for Medium High Voice and Piano, 28 pgs
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: Vocal Collections
Levels: Intermediate - Levels 5, 6, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
Thanks to poet Janet Windeler Ryan for entrusting me with her fresh, expressive poetry. Singers should feel free to alter the suggested tempo markings to accommodate individual vocal needs. I would encourage a flexible and warm contemporary style with imaginative word painting where possible. M.H. Duncan
Level 5: STILL
Level 5, RCM: PETAL WALTZ
Level 5, RCM, CSCalg: DEEP WINTER SNOWFALL
Level 8: SEARCHING THE PAINTED SKY
Level 8, CSCalg: IF I MADE A WISH
RCM: The Royal Conservatory of Music
CSCalg: Contemporary Showcase Calgary
Individual E-Pieces available at http://marthahillduncan.com
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Singing in the Northland, Volume 1, 36 pgs
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: NFMC (US), Vocal Collections
Levels: Intermediate - Levels 5, 6, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
A celebration of Canadian poetry in song for voice and piano. Includes poetry by Charles G.D Roberts, Marjorie, Pickthall and Bliss Carman.
THE BROOK IN FEBRUARY, Level 7 - a little song of "spring thaw" hints at contemporary dissonance. A CHILD'S PRAYER AT EVENING, Level 7, A starlit mood with opening line in Latin. DAISY TIME, RCM Level 7, explores varied metre. LIFE, Level 5, A melodramatic miniature. QUIET, Level 5, with a gentle Celtic flavour. THE STAR, RCM Level 5, A little song with big sentiment. THE DUSTMAN: A haunting call and response duet.
Contemporary Showcase Calgary - choose one
Digital Downloads available from Graphite Publishing
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Singing in the Northland, Volume 2, 44 pgs
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: NFMC (US), Vocal Collections, Vocal Duets, Vocal Solos
Levels: Advanced - Levels 9, 10, Diploma, Intermediate - Levels 5, 6, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
A celebration of Canadian poetry in song for voice and piano featuring poetry by Charles G.D. Roberts, E. Pauline Johnson and Bliss Carman.
GREY ROCKS AND GREYER SEAS: RCM, CSS Level 9, a jazz-inspired song of love lost. LADY ICICLE: Level 6, vocal storytelling full of special effects. RAINFALL: Level 9, a whipping and whirling summer rainstorm, won 3rd place in the 2005 Diana Barnhart American Song Competition. SEVERANCE: RCM, CSS Level 8, a dramatic tale of separation and longing. Honorable Mention in the 2005 Diana Barnhart American Song Competition. WHERE LEAPS THE STE. MARIE: RCM Level 6, sweeping vocal and piano lines imitate the St. Marie River. BE QUIET, WIND: a vocal duet with wind chimes in the piano background. ROADSIDE FLOWERS: a two soprano duet that works well for many performance occasions. M.H. Duncan
CSS: Contemporary Showcase Syllabus
Contemporary Showcase Calgary: Choose one
Downloads available from http://www.graphitepublishing.com
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Vocal Selections from Searching the Painted Sky, The Opera, 64 pgs
Martha Hill Duncan
Categories: Opera, Vocal Collections
Levels: Intermediate - Levels 5, 6, Junior - Levels 3, 4, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
Vocal selections from The Youth Opera, Searching the Painted Sky, (64 pages), story and libretto by Janet Winder Ryan, music by M.H. Duncan). Inspired by the art song collection Searching the Painted Sky, this is the story of two sisters who have lost their mother and live with their father. After a run-in with an exotic fortune teller, their lives take a turn into fantasy, complete with strange, funny and fantastical characters. Premiered by The Youth Opera of El Paso at the 2014 National Opera Association Convention in New York City. Please contact M.H. Duncan directly regarding any interest in staging the opera.
AS MORNING OPENS, HOLIDAY (CSS),BEANS AND MUSTARD, (CSS), TO HOME(CSS), UNDER THE PAINTED SKY, WORKING HARD, FOR MY MOTHER (CSS), CRAB TANGO, ELLEGEÉ, SUNSET SONG, LULLABY
CSS: Contemporary Showcase Syllabus
Individual E-Pieces available at http://marthahillduncan.com
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When We Were Very Young
Janet Gieck
Categories: Vocal Collections, Vocal Solos
Levels: Intermediate - Levels 5, 6, Late Intermediate - Levels 7, 8
A set of three humorous pieces based on poetry by children’s author A. A. Milne (author of Winnie the Pooh). Originally composed for the Gala Trio from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (soprano, french horn and piano). This version is for Soprano and Piano.
I. Independence
II. Politeness
III. Happiness
