Description
Hagen composed this work as a response piece to her a cappella mixed choir work Ophelia. The intertwining lines played by the woodwind quintet illustrate the tangled weeds, and the vocal lines float over the top, just like Ophelia’s lifeless form.
Performed by a choir and the Chione Woodwind Quintet under the direction of Matthew Goinz.
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Text
What is love
If it goes untouched, unspoiled?
If in words declared, and then denied–
Does it make Love less than love?
Into the river sails Ophelia
In her crown of weeds. Water
Water carries her onward,
this heavenly creature.
Water, water all that is
within and without.
For what is life
without love?
What is Ophelia
without hers?
– Julia Klatt Singer
Composer Notes
Eventually this work will be a part of a set along with my other a cappella work Ophelia. If you’d like to consider commissioning a movement of this larger work, or the rest of the four movements, please contact me.
– Jocelyn Hagen