FOURTH COAST ENSEMBLE
  • About
    • The Organization
    • Quartet & Staff Members
  • On Stage
    • Upcoming >
      • 2022-23 Season
      • 2022 Gala: Chicago Public Art in Song
      • Laughterreise: Liebeslieder Edition
      • Chicago songSLAM
      • Fine Folk
    • Past Seasons >
      • 2021-22 Season >
        • A Brush With Our Time, world premiere
        • Laughterreise
        • Roaring Twenties
        • Chicago songSLAM
        • End of Season Talent Show
      • 2021 HD Season >
        • Soprano | Mezzo Duo
        • Tenor | Bass Duo
        • Quartet Remix
        • songSLAM
      • 2019-20 Season >
        • Songs of Fourth Coast
        • American Woman
        • Between the Lines
        • Four by Four
  • Blog
  • Support
    • Give
  • Contact
  • Shop

Amy Beach: The Year's at the Spring

10/23/2020

0 Comments

 
by Ace Gangoso
The year’s at the spring,
And day’s at the morn;
Morning’s at seven;
The hill-side’s dew-pearl’d;
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn;
God’s in His heaven–
All’s right with the world!
​

–Robert Browning
​Well, the year is not at the spring.  Leaves are falling, the air is turning colder, and the sun sets earlier with each passing day.  All is most certainly not right with the world.  Am I delusional to have chosen to post this song at this time?  With our reality being as it is, I think it’s reasonable to allow our minds to escape to such a vision of springtime beauty and optimism once in a while.  I like to think of this poem as the Spring 2020 we had hoped to have.  Maybe we can sing this song into existence by 2021.
Picture
Amy Beach (seated) at the Brooklyn Chamber Music Society, New York in 1940. Photo: Vang Studio.
I wonder what Amy Beach’s experience was with the 1918 pandemic.  I’m curious about a lot of her life, actually, especially since I knew very little about her until I studied Three Browning Songs for this concert.  I was instantly fascinated with her and her music.  I learned that by the age of 2, Beach was probably a more skilled musician than I was at age 12—perhaps even 22.  She was a piano prodigy and made her solo debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at age 16.  When I was that age, I remember being nervous to the point of feeling nauseous to step on stage for my high school’s musical.

I wonder what it was like to be so gifted that early in life, and to have to find your way as a young American woman at the turn of the 20th century.  I wonder what it was like to be the first American woman to publish a symphony, and to hear it premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.  I wonder what it was like to be hailed a pioneer, and to be welcomed as “one of the boys” in the illustrious Boston Six.
Picture
Photo by Boris Smokrovic on Unsplash
When I consider the audacious life and career of Amy Beach…
When I reflect on the calamity of the past eight months…
When I stop to take notice of the steadfastness, creativity, and goodwill that has continues to emerge in spite of it all…

…a part of me starts to believe that anything is possible.  I invite you to join me in getting lost in wonder and daring to dream.  There is new life ahead.  Happy spring!
Picture

Author

Tenor Ace Gangoso recently completed his first season with Fourth Coast Ensemble.  His various other musical affiliations, including the CSO and Grant Park Choruses, Chicago a cappella, the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the Chicago Black Catholics Choir, hint at his interests in different musical genres and styles.  He believes good songs are like onions: they come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, have many layers, and take on the unique flavors added by those entrusted to their care.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    SUBSCRIBE

    * indicates required

    About

    Hello, and welcome to the blog!  We are Fourth Coast Ensemble, Chicago's classical vocal quartet.  Join a different member of our ensemble each week for insights into our favorite art songs, links to archival and new recordings, and reflections on why we value and continue to come back to this musical medium.  We proudly present, your weekly #artsongfix!

    Archives

    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020

    Categories

    All
    African American Art Song
    American Art Song
    Animal Themed
    By Ace
    By Bridget
    By David
    By Sarah
    Chicago Art Song
    Christmas
    Comedic Art Song
    Crossover Jazz
    Crossover Musical Theater
    Duets
    English Art Song
    Filipino Song
    Food Themed
    French Mélodie
    Friendship
    German Lieder
    Love
    Mexican Art Song
    Mourning
    Nature
    On Music
    Quartets
    Social Justice
    Songs For Bass Baritone
    Songs For Mezzo Soprano
    Songs For Soprano
    Songs For Tenor
    Trios
    Vocal Chamber Music
    War
    Women's Rights

    RSS Feed

Picture
4955 S. Kimbark Ave.
Chicago, IL 60615
​
Website photography by Elliot Mandel Photography
  • About
    • The Organization
    • Quartet & Staff Members
  • On Stage
    • Upcoming >
      • 2022-23 Season
      • 2022 Gala: Chicago Public Art in Song
      • Laughterreise: Liebeslieder Edition
      • Chicago songSLAM
      • Fine Folk
    • Past Seasons >
      • 2021-22 Season >
        • A Brush With Our Time, world premiere
        • Laughterreise
        • Roaring Twenties
        • Chicago songSLAM
        • End of Season Talent Show
      • 2021 HD Season >
        • Soprano | Mezzo Duo
        • Tenor | Bass Duo
        • Quartet Remix
        • songSLAM
      • 2019-20 Season >
        • Songs of Fourth Coast
        • American Woman
        • Between the Lines
        • Four by Four
  • Blog
  • Support
    • Give
  • Contact
  • Shop