CFAMC LISTENING PAGE #30: Larry Warkentin

A monthly musical offering by a composer memberof the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers. Both your listening and comments are encouraged.

APRIL 17, 2007

Larry Warkentin: from "Eleven Little Love Songs" performed by Milton Friesen, baritone and Larry Warkentin, piano

1. If not for love I’d love to sleep and sleep.  But as it is, I’d rather never shut an eye, and love you till I die.

2. I cannot decide....  Is our love like an orchid, with its purple arms and golden throat? or like the daisy, wild as the summer, bright as the sun? or like the simple lilac, fragrant as the morning? or like the white narcissus, marigold, or pansy; aster, tulip, poppy or rose?  I cannot decide.

3. Too much laughter brings tears; too much sleep, atrophy; too much labor, fatigue; too much food, obesity; too much study, blindness; too much love.... Ah, there cannot be too much love.

4. Today the pyramids can wait.  Now is the time for love, and if when love is done the pyramids are dust we shall have monument enough.

5. I give you gifts of gold and silk, not to make you more beautiful, but to hide your beauty.  Let all eyes but mine be blinded by these gifts so only I may treasure the gold of your smile and the silk of your skin.

6. Beneath the lilac bush you rest; only oval leaves your gown, fragrant blooms your crown; at ease in Eden; bearing in supple hands no apple;  in velvet grass, no serpent.  Yet, with ancient Adam, I yield.

The CD $15 and printed copies of the songs $10 are available from the composer.
e-mail:  LWarkent@fresno.edu

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE COMPOSER

Larry Warkentin is professor emeritus at Fresno Pacific University where he taught piano performance and music composition for forty years before his retirement in 2002. Since retirement he has performed in recitals at Fresno Pacific University including an appearance with renowned flutist Paul Fried and bass opera soloist, Andrew Funk.  He has also taught courses in music theory and composition at California State University, Fresno. Dr.  Warkentin earned his D.M.A. degree from the University of Southern California.  With his wife, Paula, he lives in Fresno, California.  She has been his inspiration for more than forty years and it is their love that is celebrated in the Eleven Little Love Songs on this CD. They are active members of the North Fresno Mennonite Brethren Church  and they share a strong faith in Jesus Christ as their redeemer and savior.

- - -  SOLI DEO GLORIA!  - - -

For comments, e-mail Larry directly at: LWarkent@fresno.edu To read Larry's thought-provoking article "Caring About Music in the Church" go to: http://www.directionjournal.org/article/?798

If you are a member composer interested in submitting a composition for an upcoming monthly CFAMC listening page, please contact Bill Vollinger at: WilliamVollinger@aol.com

For further information, to become a member of the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers, to renew your membership, or to participate in the CFAMC e-mail discussion group, visit the CFAMC website at http://www.cfamc.org

For recent CFAMC Listening Pages, go to the following links:

March 2007: James R. Geiger "Out of the Depths"

February 2007: Warner Hutchison "Apocalypse"

January 2007: William Rogers Price "de profundis"

December 2006: Brandon Kreuze "Ubi Caritas"