Songs for the End of the World

Started upon a commission for a major work from the International Horn Society, Warren Benson incorporated another song cycle he hadin mind for the distinguished mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani into the work. In looking for appropriate text, the composer recalled that distinguished American novelist John Gardner had studied horn at Eastman School of Music as a young man. Mr. Gardner responded favorably to the collaboration and provided six poems to the project. The titles given in the program for the various songs are by the composer, suggesting aspects of the poems which are both descriptive and in their small way, symbolic. Songs: I. Awakening, II.Two Step, III. Lullaby, IV. Spring, V. Siciliana, VI. Nocturne