Movement III. Indian Summer (5 Nocturnes after Sara Teasdale)

Hi!

This is the third movement of a song cycle that I wrote from January to April of last year (2025). Each of the five movements is a setting of a different poem by Sara Teasdale, and together create a suite of nocturnes. This is my personal favorite of the set, if there is some interest I may upload some of the others, as there are strong connections between each of the movements. 

This song is in a three part form, where the second and third parts develop material initially heard in the first. In this piece, the primary material being developed is the piano ostinato heard right at the beginning.

Please let me know what you think!

Hi @mercurypickles!

I like the modes you explore in different sections of this Scherzo (probably the "Indian" element?): C Phrygian in first section, A Mixolydian for second section and a mixed of modes in third section. I also like how you use repetition of rhythmic ostinato in the first and third section in the accompaniment part for a really indigenous effect, it really sounds like what I would have heard in a World Music class. The 2nd section, benifitted from the Lydian mode and the broader piano part, is really calm to me. Thx for sharing and hopefully you will post the other pieces of the set too.

Henry