top of page

NEW YORK SCENES 

song cycle

 

EXCERPT- Internal Monologue Drinking Song

(01:51)
music and text by Justine F. Chen
performed by Matt Boehler/Bass, Eduard Laurel/piano.

program notes:
New York Scenes was originally written for lyric baritone Giuseppe Spoletini.  The word in the title “scene” better describes the spirit of these pieces than the word “song”. 

Influences for this cycle include Georges Aperghis' Récitations and Franz Schubert's Erlkönig.

These songs were written for Giuseppe’s voice type, and actually it sits quite high for him.  This version for bass is transposed down a minor third.  I think the gender-neutral everyday character of the narrator make the songs easily transferable from one voice type to another.  I strongly encourage other voice types to perform these songs.

The song cycle was premiered in its entirety by Giuseppe Spoletini and pianist Eduard Laurel at the Cornelia Street Café in New York on October 9th, 2006.

The bass version was premiered at Cornelia Street Café January 14, 2008 by the masterful and remarkable bass Matt Boehler, and my dear friend and collaborative partner, Eduard Laurel.



For another excerpt, click here

 

 

Photo Credit: Justine F. Chen. 

JUSTINE F. CHEN

COMPOSER AND VIOLINIST

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SONG join us at the composer's round table 5/12/25 2:30-4 PM

Locations and dates of Justine's most recent cycle of Asian Americana:
ALIGHT, w/ poet Ophelia Hu Kinney, sung by Jennifer Lien.

Check out our rave review from Gramophone of
SHALLOW BREATH AND STEALTH
LISTEN on Spotify  YouTube   AppleMusic

BEST WORLD PREMIERE!
Our "Fantastical, evocative, and nuanced" opera THE LIFE AND DEATH(S) OF ALAN TURING was named BEST WORLD PREMIERE of 2023 by Chicago Tribune

 

 All content in this website, including text, most images and sound files, is ©Copyright 2024 by Justine Fang Chen.

bottom of page