Matthew's Song

In the fall of 2003 I audited an excellent introductory course in music theory at Swarthmore College. The final assignment for the course was to write a three-part vocal canon that would incorporate the principles of composition and basic harmony that we had learned. I wrote my canon for Matthew. I began with the lyrics and a rhythm. I had been thinking for some time about a fairy tale or nursery rhyme theme. One of my poems ("Mirror, Mirror") briefly invokes such a theme, but in "Matthew's Song" I explore images in this category -- fairy tale love, lost lambs, Little Boy Blue, and so on -- more extensively. In writing the lyrics I kept the song's vertical structure in mind, incorporating rhymes and complementary rhythms that would work when the lines overlapped. I then selected a key (minor for my mood and the mood of the song; B for my own vocal range) and created a melody that would harmonize with itself when sung in parts. Composing this canon for Matthew took only a couple of hours. At the time, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. It is truly an honor to have been able to create this song. When I hear it, I feel a deep, nonverbal sense of love and gratitude.

Lyrics and score How "Matthew's Song" came to be recorded Back to Matthew's main page