English Department announces William Blake common text events

English Department announces William Blake common text events

The English Department announces two events that will be held Tuesday, March 13, in celebration of William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience, the spring 2007 freshman common text at St. Thomas.

From early 20th century composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, to contemporary folk musician Greg Brown, to punk-funk band Adequate Seven – all have been inspired to set Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience to music. In 2004, William Bolcom's monumental version of all 46 of the Songs was awarded four Grammy awards, including Best Classical Album and Best Choral Performance. For two weeks in April-May 2007, Bolcom will perform in the Twin Cities in "Illuminating Bolcom," a festival of his music. (Read more about these events on the Illuminating Bolcom Web site.)

In conjunction with this upcoming Twin Cities festival, Bolcom will be on campus for the common text events on March 13.

Here is the schedule:

• "Meet the Composer" – a presentation and discussion
  3-4:30 p.m. in the O'Shaughnessy Room (Leather Room), O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center

  Bolcom will speak about his process of composing music for Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Learn what inspires a composer and how he takes the mood and action of a poem and sets it to music.

• "Illuminating Blake" – a lecture recital
  7-8:30 p.m. in the O'Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium

  Faculty and student musicians from the ACTC schools will explore a variety of musical settings of Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Learn how composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Vernon Duke have interpreted songs from "The Piper" and "The Lamb" to "The Tyger" and "The Divine Image."

If you have questions about these events, call the English Department, (651) 962-5600.