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By The Sea Programme Notes

The poem describes the sea as both a literal thing and a metaphor for a lover. The composer was drawn to setting this poem to music due to its multiple interpretations and moods. In the composition, the sea is represented by a wave-like theme that oscillates between irregular meters. A long ascending phrase symbolizes the sea/lover trying to seduce the subject, culminating in a dizzying descent. The piece ends calmly as the sea/lover withdraws, echoing the soft opening theme.

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Ivan Tangkulung
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19 views

By The Sea Programme Notes

The poem describes the sea as both a literal thing and a metaphor for a lover. The composer was drawn to setting this poem to music due to its multiple interpretations and moods. In the composition, the sea is represented by a wave-like theme that oscillates between irregular meters. A long ascending phrase symbolizes the sea/lover trying to seduce the subject, culminating in a dizzying descent. The piece ends calmly as the sea/lover withdraws, echoing the soft opening theme.

Uploaded by

Ivan Tangkulung
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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By the Sea

for a cappella SATB Choir


2015
Ivan Tangkulung

Programme Notes

The composers interest in the sea drew him to this poem by Emily
Dickinson. With multiple interpretations, this poem contains multiple
moods and subtexts that the composer tries to put into music.
First interpretation is the sea as a literal thing. This is represented
as a wave-like theme, oscillating between different irregular meters to give
an expectant and uncertain effect.
Then there is another interpretation of this text that interpret the
sea as the lover who tries to seduce and overcome the subject in the
poem, as can be seen in the third to the fifth stanza. The composer
translates this to music as a long ascending phrase, which culminates in a
cluster, and then it slowly descends back in a dizzying manner.
The piece ends with such calmness as the sea/lover withdrew, and
the music recalls back the soft echo-like theme from the beginning.

Text
I STARTED early, took my dog,
And visited the sea;
The mermaids in the basement
Came out to look at me,
And frigates in the upper floor
Extended hempen hands,

Presuming me to be a mouse
Aground, upon the sands.
But no man moved me till the tide
Went past my simple shoe,
And past my apron and my belt,

And past my bodice too,

And made as he would eat me up


As wholly as a dew
Upon a dandelions sleeve
And then I started too.
And hehe followed close behind;
I felt his silver heel

Upon my ankle,then my shoes


Would overflow with pearl.
Until we met the solid town,
No man he seemed to know;
And bowing with a mighty look
At me, the sea withdrew.
- Emily Dickinson (1830 1886)

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