WEARY

 

Program Note

WEARY explores the themes of life, death, and the passage of time through the lens of William Blake's poignant poem "Ah Sunflower!" The voices lay mostly in the lower register, conveying the exhaustion and weariness of the protagonist. The use of a prepared piano serves to accentuate this theme, with the muted sound of the instrument mimicking the ticking of a clock, reinforcing the idea of time's relentless march. This work was written to bring new interpretation to Blake's timeless text, and to explore the human experience of mortality and the search for solace.

 

AH SUNFLOWER! BY WILLIAM BLAKE

Ah Sun-flower! weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun:
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the travellers journey is done. 

Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow: 
Arise from their graves and aspire, 
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.