Stephen Cronin: House Songs II

Abstract

While visiting Australia during 1989 Leon Waller wrote the first of seven poems which provide the text for House Songs. On his return to New York, Waller completed the group which Stephen Cronin used to write his song cycle during the next two years. The poetry, at times almost surrealistic, is pervaded by images of wind and fire and themes of isolation, expectation and change. Cronin's use of the text varies between complete and unedited use of the poetry to the use of a single line in the second song. The work is dedicated to the tenor, Gregory Massingham. It won the first Paul Lowin Song Cycle Award in 1991, and was premiered by The Seymour Group at the 1992 Adelaide Festival. Show more