Tumbleweed required!

November 28, 2007 10:46 AM

First post, deep breath, here goes nuffin. Judith Bingham is a multitalented British born classical singer, composer and musician. Driving home in the dark on Halloween listening to Radio Three (I'll let someone else out there explain Radio Three to our overseas cousins), I was particularly taken by her atmospheric choral setting of 'Ghost towns of the American West' a poem by Vesta Pierce Crawford, a Mormon Utah poet associated with the University. Despite delving much further into Mormon websites than I would usually care to venture I have not been able to find the text of the poem, if anyone out there can give a hand I'd be grateful. Judith Bingham also wrote an opera based on the life of Errol Flynn! Now that I would like to see.

The performance linked is by the University of Utah Singers (the one I heard was by the BBC Singers) I only have two problems with it, surely the lights should have been turned down a bit for atmosphere, and there were several pauses in the singing where tumbleweed could have been blown across the stage.

posted by surfdad (10 comments total)

Holy macaroni!
posted by dead_ at 11:01 AM on November 28, 2007

Despite delving much further into Mormon websites than I would usually care to venture...

Wow, you brave, brave soul you! Are you ok? You didn't wet your knickers did you?
posted by JaySunSee at 11:01 AM on November 28, 2007

In flames, motherfuckers.
posted by basicchannel at 11:17 AM on November 28, 2007

They've got special knickers for that, you know.
posted by benATthelocust at 11:18 AM on November 28, 2007 [3 favorites]

According to this page: It "was written to poems by Vesta Pierce Crawford", which explains why you can't find the words to a single poem by that name.
posted by spock at 12:13 PM on November 28, 2007

Looks like an opportunity for a talented transcriptionist. I'm sure if you emailed the author she might send you the words.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:25 PM on November 28, 2007

I look forward to your next post some time in November 2010.
posted by psmealey at 1:29 PM on November 28, 2007

Thank you psmealey, for your support and encouragement.
posted by surfdad at 1:31 PM on November 28, 2007

That's a really nice piece. Reminds me everso everso slightly of Eric Whitacre's work, which I'm only aware of because somebody once recommended "When David Heard" in AskMe ages ago.

(Also, on further investigation, Bingham was born round just down the road. Cool.)
posted by Hartster at 1:56 PM on November 28, 2007

First post, deep breath, here goes nuffin.

Fixed that for you.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:56 PM on November 28, 2007 [1 favorite]