Newly OutLibretto by Kendra Harder
Instrumentation: Contralto (E3 - D5), piano Duration: 15' 2023 - 2024 |
This recording is from the premiere at the Saskatoon Opera Proms starring Oli Guselle (contralto/mezzo-soprano) and Matthew Praksas (piano)
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Created with support through the Canadian Art Song Project's Chung-Wai Chow and John Wright Art Song Mentorship Program
Whilst in my third decade, I had the glorious revelation that I am gay! These art songs are little vignettes of my experiences in my first year of being openly out as a gay woman.
When writing these pieces, I focused on all the things that I wish were in classical voice repertoire: women singing about women, queer representation, vocal repertoire that actually uses the lower register, and naturally some comedy.
These pieces are really me writing for little me - little closeted, contralto Kendra, who growing up was not allowed to be either - queer or low-registered.
And they are for anyone else who is sick of being shoved into boxes.
But mostly these art songs are a celebration.
When writing these pieces, I focused on all the things that I wish were in classical voice repertoire: women singing about women, queer representation, vocal repertoire that actually uses the lower register, and naturally some comedy.
These pieces are really me writing for little me - little closeted, contralto Kendra, who growing up was not allowed to be either - queer or low-registered.
And they are for anyone else who is sick of being shoved into boxes.
But mostly these art songs are a celebration.
Movement Titles
1. A smile and an 'x'
2. There's so much more to her
3. A swing and a bunt
1. A smile and an 'x'
2. There's so much more to her
3. A swing and a bunt
A huge thank you to the folks at the Canadian Art Song Project for giving me this opportunity to create these works, and to Cecilia Livingston for being such an encouraging and wonderful mentor throughout this project.
Newly Out was premiered as a part of the Saskatoon Opera's Summer Proms concerts on August 7, 2024, performed by Oli Gusselle (they/them) (contralto/mezzo-soprano) and Matthew Praksas (he/his) (piano).
Sheet Music will be available on October 13, 2024
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