Poetry by Sierra Leone
Music by Steven Winteregg
- Tenacious
- Graceful (A Song for Miriam)
- Radiant
- Humorous
- Inspiring
- Worn
- Jubilant
- Dynamic
Most artistic endeavors start with a single thought. In the case of “Expressions,” it began with an idea that Neal Gittleman had to create an artistic work by putting music to the poetry of Sierra Leone. The poet and the composer were introduced to one another by Neal, and as the poet and composer planned, they realized that the piece needed a controlling idea to provide unity and to hold the composition together. Since the piece was commissioned by the Miriam Rosenthal Foundation for the Arts, it was a natural first step to look to Miriam Rosenthal as the unifying idea. Besides being an early administrator of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Miriam was a force of nature when it came to planning and raising money for many of the non-profits in the Miami Valley, and consequently, she seemed to be a worthy subject. In researching Miriam Rosenthal, eight words emerged that were often used to describe her: Tenacious, Graceful, Radiant, Humorous, Inspiring, Worn, Jubilant, and Dynamic. The challenge for the poet and the composer was how to turn these eight expressions, with their various meanings and moods, into a multi-movement musical piece.
“Tenacious” is conveyed by an orchestral passacaglia with its repeated and unrelenting bass line. “Graceful,” with its subtitle “A Song for Miriam,” is the only direct reference to Miriam Rosenthal in the entire piece. It features a solo for soprano with orchestral accompaniment as well as a part for poet. “Humorous” is composed for chorus and orchestra while “Inspiring” features the poet with orchestra. “Worn” reflects the end of Miriam’s life and her battle with cancer, and it is written for Soprano, Poet, Choir, and Orchestra. This movement moves without break into the next section, “Jubilant.” The final movement, “Dynamic,” is written for orchestra alone and provides a positive and triumphal ending to Miriam’s life and to the piece.
The entire composition was created with the poet and the composer closely interacting with one another. The piece, with its many moods and styles, ends up being a work that could have only resulted from this unique collaboration. Their joint effort ended up being the perfect reflection of how Miriam Rosenthal worked and collaborated in the Dayton area.
EXPRESSIONS TEXT:
Poetry by Sierra Leone
Graceful (“Miriam: The Prophetess”)
Remembrance
has found a home
the essence of your lived generosity
is befitting for infinite moments of inspiration
A visible force
everlasting memories,
holding the fragility of embraced mortality
and stunning wonder of humanity to the light
A prism of grace and mercy
hands of service crossing imaginary limitations
dimensions of resilience, legacy shifted
doubt dwindled in the presence of your gentle brilliance
Exhaustion has no end
you were fresh water to parched spirits
dreams do come true when remembered
shining like the newness of a day lived in appreciation
A divine message delivered our Gem City’s Saint and beloved citizen.
Radiant (Excerpt from “In Radiance”)
Pirouetting like a summer’s day turned
sun lite shimmering snowflake,
light angel, ancient with enchanting ways,
an electrifying blessing counted
the gift of kinship
regal gentle, heavenly radiance
Humorous (“Music”)
just like music
I bend to the beat of my creativity
innovate when all else fails
stand strong in the midst of madness
I know my play and my place
Hear that, it’s my music, it’s…my music
Inspiring (Excerpts from “Educational Advocate”)
You are the woman
who took a swimmer’s breath
dove deeply into what you believed
manifested dream catcher’s energy
and used it to embrace humanity
I am not sure,
if it was your elegance or sophistication
authentic style or smile
maybe it was your invitation to choose greatness
that pushed those you led to excellence
It is not every day that you meet a human being
whose natural beauty is just as amazing
as her milestones of transformation and leadership
For those who appreciate you,
the footprints in the sand
are memories of you walking hand and hand
With those of us that you have led and prepared
Worn (“Weather Worn”)
The sun does not shine always
But it does shine.
There may be shady days
But the clouds will pass
Laughter will prevail
Even when the cries are overbearing.
Valleys share the same space
as mountain tops
I wonder about the things some do in the dark.
Mask the scars,
Arm yourself with righteous deeds,
No matter how it reads
Death is more than a cousin to sleep
My friend honesty hasn’t forgiven me.
I’ve told the same story 2wice.
Watering a dead plant
Stops new heartache
No, the sun does not shine always
But it does shine
There may be shaded days
But the clouds will pass
Jubilant (Excerpts from “Dare to Imagine”)
I am an empowered opulent yes!
hear waves of awareness integrating my focused intention,
see my inner authority reigning supreme.
turn my inherited burdens into legacy shifted blessing,
I wonder if happiness is the side effect of knowing what I believe.
I am an empowered opulent yes!
I pretend that harmony making love to joy
is my authentic being, dressed as royalty.
stimulating thoughts that birth seeds of prosperity
I live life as art
feel the positive energetic invitation surrounding me
touch a blooming flower and remember tomorrow.
Poetry © 2022 Sierra Leone
