Program Note
The Body Electric uses two lines from Walt Whitman’s poem “I Sing the Body Electric.” The first is reorganized in a matrix according to the following hierarchy “I vapor breath drawn were am helpless more its no than by as if a.” The second acts as a disruption, always occurring in its original order (with some words missing) and always at the same pitch. The jumbled words are introduced in full or partial sets until the final phrases of the piece, where they are presented in Whitman’s original order:
“I am drawn by its breath as if I am no more than a helpless vapor all falls aside but myself and it.”
— Jamie Leigh Sampson
“I am drawn by its breath as if I am no more than a helpless vapor all falls aside but myself and it.”
— Jamie Leigh Sampson
Reproduction Notice:
This program note may be freely reproduced in concert programs, provided that proper credit is given to the composer.
This program note may be freely reproduced in concert programs, provided that proper credit is given to the composer.