Description
Kallman Creates Publications
Soprano solo voice, piano. Duration: 2’50”
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Composer’s Notes
I composed this setting of Christina Rossetti’s text in 1983 during my graduate study days at the University of Minnesota. Nearly ten years later, it was included on one of the most memorable recitals I’ve ever attended. The program featured American baritone William Parker and several other musicians performing songs from the AIDS Quilt Songbook, a project which Parker began by inviting an array of American composers to contribute works and donate our royalties to AIDS research. Parker himself suffered from the disease, which was painfully obvious at this recital. It was to be his last public performance. Many of the works from the recital, including When I Am Dead, My Dearest, are included on the 1994 Innova Label recording “Heartbeats: New Songs From The AIDS Quilt Songbook“.
