Written for the Tanglewood Music Center 2013

Our meeting was like the upward swish of a rocket In the blue night.
I do not know when it burst;
But now I stand gaping,
In a glory of falling stars.

from "Pyrotechnics" by Amy Lowell, 1919

The blue smoke leaps
Like swirling clouds of birds vanishing.
So my love leaps forth toward you,
Vanishes and is renewed.

from "Images" by Richard Aldington, 1920

In Smoke and Distance, two separate texts by Lowell and Aldington are joined together, united by images of the night, the color blue, and an intense reflection on a past love. The "fireworks" that are alluded to in the opening vocal monologue refer to both the literal spectacle and the metaphorical type occurring between two lovers. However, these sparks remain only in the narrator's memory. 

In setting these poignant texts, I chose to emphasize their intimate qualities. The piano part deviates from its traditional accompaniment role and is instead intertwined closely with the vocal line. In addition to echoing the voice, the pianist is also called upon to create its own resonance inside the instrument. This resonance– a sonic memory– extends the poetic recollection described in the texts.The dramatic climax of the piece occurs when the vivid images collide. It produces a realization that although despite the distance of time, the narrator's love has not completely disappeared and is simply renewed.