Sofia Dimitrova sings, with violist Edmundo Ramirez

“The Rose Cycle” is a new composition for soprano and string quartet, and it premiered April 22, 2014. The concert was presented by the New York Composers Circle at Saint Peter’s Church at the Citigroup Center. Pictured here is the singer, Sofia Dimitrova, and the violist Edmundo Ramirez. The entire ensemble is the Bleecker StQ.

The cycle is in four movements with poems by four authors:
1) Nobody knows this little rose by Emily Dickinson
2) Amid the Roses by Alice Ruth Moore (excerpted)
3) The Sick Rose by William Blake
4) ‘Tis the Last Rose of Summer by Thomas Moore

Funny but true story: As I searched around for poems that feature roses in some prominent way, I found ‘Tis the Last Rose of Summer, but I had no idea it was a famous song already. In fact, when I first read the poem I was amazed that it hasn’t been set to music many times by many composers. While I was composing this movement, I mentioned it to a colleague of mine who pointed out it is a famous piece of music, a prominent Irish song. In a somewhat panicked state, I searched the internet for a copy of the music to be sure I hadn’t subconsciously lifted a famous melody. No, I quickly discovered; my own take was an original one. But as I sight read the music off the computer monitor, I thought, “So that’s what they’re always playing on the bagpipes in New York City parades!”

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