The Spider (Salutations)

An epistolary work for choir with piano accompaniment.  And yes, I did pluck a little clump of dog hair out of a box I was mailing that wriggled and turned out to be a small spider.  The spider was released back into the basement, which I'm sure it and the person receiving the box were both grateful for.  Thanks for taking a listen!

My dear Sir,

It may please you to know that this box does not contain a spider.

A bit of fluff, pinched out 'twixt thumb and finger,
pushed back in desperate protest, unspooling thread-fine legs,
and we saw each other face to face,
both equally surprised,

and so I send your order and a reminder from the spider,
who was not mailed to California,
that when the hand of Fate plucks you up,
beat with your tiny fist,
and sometimes the grip relaxes,
and Fortune herself will stare in shock
at your small soul looking up.

Hi @pateceramics!

I really like how you use different mood and word painting for different lyrics. The A minor section in b.13 really depicts the agitation to “protest” with short and accented tone, and then the next section you use long slurs to depict the “unspooling thread fine legs”. Next section is like a declamation. And then next section you really “beat” your beat with staccato and accents, and then “relaxes” with longer notes, and ends with longer note value too.

Thx for sharing!

Henry

Thanks Henry!  Yes, this piece was all about word painting to tell the story, so we start off stuffy and formal, like a formal business letter, and then are surprised with creepy, agitated eighth notes and a spider.  

My main challenge was trying to make the piece feel cohesive, since there isn't a strict melody or even a single short motif that holds it together.  What does repeat are some textures:  anxious eighth note sections for the piano at m. 13 and 47, and striding up by quarter note thirds and fourths at m.18 and 52 (the second time fancied up with an added octave and then some dotted eighth rhythms.  Hopefully the final result isn't too chaotic.  Or is just chaotic enough for suddenly realizing you are holding a live, struggling spider in your hand.  

Thanks for your thoughts!

I made a multitrack recording of this piece too, if anyone would rather listen to that.  You do have to listen to me, an alto, singing the bass line and then pitching it down a few steps using GarageBand, but it works, more or less!