Donemus Webshop — I Sit And Look Out

I Sit And Look Out : for mixed choir and orchestra / Bart Michiels; poetry by Walt Whitman

Author(s):
Michiels, Bart (Composer)
Whitman, Walt (Text writer/Librettist)
Description:
One gloomy day, while browsing some poetry, a poem by the great American writer Walt Whitman caught my eye: I Sit and Look Out.
The poem constitutes a critical reflection on various forms of social oppression throughout modern history. In the poem, Whitman depicts human nature as one of cruelty, injustice and indifference, suggesting the human tendency to ignore other people's suffering and not to intervene if it is not directly related to oneself.
Indeed, throughout history, individuals and societies have always succeeded in causing suffering and agony to each other, be it because of differences in belief systems, religion, skin color, gender, sexual preference or wealth.
Even today in COVID times, Whitman's analysis about human behavior remains accurate as the world is more polarized than ever before.
Inspired by the universality and topicality of Whitman's poem, I decided to use his text to write a piece for choir and orchestra, also lending his title for the work.
I wanted the music to reflect Whitman's dark depiction of humanity, thereby using the full force and colors of the orchestra. The mixed choir functions as the central observer in Whitman's poem, indifferently noting all the suffering and injustices around the world.
Despite the dark athmosphere throughout the piece, there are also shimmers of hope in moments where the orchestra & choir come together in a single unisono chant.
Bart Michiels, January 2022

Sheet Music
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Product	Description	Price/piece	Count
Score	Download to Newzik (A3), 32 pages	EUR 25.72
	Download as PDF (A3), 32 pages	EUR 30.86
	Hardcopy, normal size (A3), 32 pages	EUR 51.44
	Hardcopy, study size (A4), 32 pages	EUR 36.48
Vocal Score	Download to Newzik (A4), 17 pages	EUR 6.72
	Download as PDF (A4), 17 pages	EUR 8.06
	Hardcopy, normal size (A4), 17 pages	EUR 13.44
Rental Part(s)	Download to Newzik (B4), 66 pages	EUR 34.83
	Download as PDF (B4), 66 pages	EUR 41.79
	Hardcopy, normal size (B4), 66 pages	EUR 69.66

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