Scott Good

 

Dueil  Angoisseux (Anguished Grief)  - 2004                           

15:00

 

Soprano, String Quartet

Text by Christine de Pizan.

 

• Premiere: March 15, 2004, Art Word theater, Toronto/Ontario, I Furiosi, Gabrielle McLaughlin - Soprano.

 

To my surprise and delight, I was approached by baroque ensemble I Furiosi to compose an original work for an upcoming concert. 

 

As this was to be a work with voice, text was of paramount importance.  Drew Stevens, a horn playing musicologist friend, introduced me to the poem Dueil Angoisseux, of Christine de Pizan.  Its fluid, highly emotive text drew me in at first read.  The sound of the words work beautifully with Gabrielle McLaughlin's clear, early music style.  As well, the form of the poem bleeds music in structure, and recurring concluding refrain.

 

The melancholic song is book-ended by two "furious" instrumental fugues, allowing for the ensemble to express the underlying turmoil. 

 

Review:

 

Talisker Players’ thoughtful programming shows off local singers’ art

John Terauds, Musical Toronto, March 6, 2013

 

"This led us to Toronto trombonist and composer Scott Good’s Dueil angoisseux (Painful Mourning), which sets an early 15th century text by Christine de Pizan. It’s a big work that deserves to be called a cantata for solo soprano. It was premiered by baroque ensemble I Furiosi in 2002.

 

The instrumental portions provide a nice undertow of bubbling tumult as well as melancholy under a vocal part seemingly written to show off Huhtanen’s finest attributes, especially her way to modulate a narrative, from a vocal slow burn to all-out lament. It’s a long, subtle musical arc that she masterfully shaped for best dramatic effect."

 

Dueil Engoisseux

 

Dueil engoisseux, rage desmesurée,

Grief desespoir, plein de forsennement,

Langour sanz fin, vie maleürée

Pleine de plour, d'engoisse et de tourment,

Cuer doloreux qui vit obscurement,

Tenebreux corps sus le point de perir,

Ay, sanz cesser, continuellement;

Et si ne puis ne garir ne morir.

 

Fierté, durté de joye separée

Triste penser, parfont gemissement,

Engoisse grant en las cuer enserrée,

Courroux amer porté couvertement,

Morne maintien sanz resjoïssement,

Espoir dolent qui tous biens fait tarir,

Si sont en moy, sanz partir nullement;

Et si ne puis ne garir ne morir.

 

Soussi, anuy qui tous jours a durée,

Aspre veillier, tressaillir en dorment,

Labour en vain, a chiere alangourée

En grief travail infortunéement, .

Et tout le mal, qu'on puet entierement

Dire et penser sanz espoir de garir,

Me tourmentent desmesuréement

Et si ne puis ne garir ne morir.

 

Princes, priez a Dieu que bien briefment

Me doint la mort, s'autrement secourir

Ne veult le mal ou languis durement ;

Et si ne puis ne garir ne morir.