A Dream of Beauty

A Dream of Beauty for flute, clarinet, viola, cello and piano is inspired by Clark Ashton Smith’s poem of the same name. Its opening melody incorporates the entire poem in condensed form; the rest of the composition grows as an elaboration of that line. The first rehearsals taught me that an ensemble needs time and a shared understanding to grow towards a unified sound and colour. The poem remains an inspiration rather than a code: the music must ultimately work by itself.

Clark Ashton Smith: A Dream of Beauty

I dreamed that each most lovely, perfect thing That Nature hath, of sound, and form, and hue The winds, the grass, the light-concentering dew, The gleam and swiftness of the sea-bird’s wing; Blueness of sea and sky, and gold of storm Transmuted by the sunset, and the flame Of autumn-colored leaves, before me came, And, meeting, merged to one diviner form.

Incarnate Beauty ‘twas, whose spirit thrills Through glaucous ocean and the greener hills, And in the cloud-bewildered peaks is pent. Like some descended star she hovered o’er, But as I gazed, in doubt and wonderment, Mine eyes were dazzled, and I saw no more.