i'm very fond of black bean soup - (1989)    YR1518

E. E. Cummings
for medium voice and piano 

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

 

from Late Poems (1930-1962)

 

 [ 3 pages, circa 1' 00" ]

 

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E. E. Cummings

 

This musical romp through several verses -- for the repetition of the lines is quite like a secular hymn -- advises that the poet will "live his life if it kills" him, by following his own choices and whims.

Even advice from Cummings' "parson" is eschewed, and a final flight of non-functional  dominant seventh chords ends the final strophe aggressively. The tessitura is merely one octave, from E to E in the medium key, and therefore for any singer who might enjoy Cummings joyful nonsense.