Words of Poet, Abolitionist Put to Music at Yellow Barn

By Stephen Cheslik
EAGLE TIMES MANAGING EDITOR
An unexpected friendship between poet Emily Dickinson and minister, abolitionist and soldier Thomas Wentworth Higginson will be celebrated in music Tuesday at Yellow Barn

What began as a response to an article in The Atlantic would become a conversation that would last for 24 years between two figures whose life work and actions continue to speak to America today.

Composer Eric Nathan drew on Dickinson’s poetry and Higginson’s writings as inspiration for “Some Favored Nook,” a work for two voices and piano.

The writings offer “an intimate look into Dickinson’s private world as well as to Higginson’s involvement in major social and political issues of the day, as the commanding officer of the First South Carolina Volunteers, the first black regiment in the Civil War,” writes Nathan.

“Higginson was also a noted supporter of women poets, and published the first collection of Dickinson’s poetry after her death. We use both excerpts from Dickinson’s letters and poems she sent to Higginson,” Nathan said. “As many of Higginson’s letters to her are lost, texts are set from Higginson’s own essays and diaries from his “Army Life in a Black Regiment,” giving an important historical context to Dickinson’s work.”

“It is a new work,” said Yellow Barn Executive Director Catherine Stephan. “I will say that it is beautifully composed in that you hear the story. This particular composer has a real sensitivity for melody and for using that for conveying the story.”

While the composition may be new to many, the performers will be familiar.

Yellow Barn Artistic director and pianist Seth Knopp will accompany soprano Tony Arnold and baritone William Sharp.

Audience members are invited to join Nathan, Knopp, Arnold and Sharp for a post-concert discussion.

“A little out of the ordinary,” Stephan said of the performance. “For us, a special event.”

The performance will begin at 8 p.m. in Yellow Barn’s intimate 75-seat concert hall in Putney.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $21 for seniors and $12 for students.

For more information visit www.yellowbarn.org.