Soprano, flute, and classical guitar. 5 1/2 mins.
Selection from Sauntering Songs: a concert-length cantata on the theme of walking, commissioned by Skylark Vocal Ensemble.
Lyrics by Nell Shaw Cohen.
Perusal Score
Performance score available for purchase. Please direct inquiries to Nell Shaw Cohen at nell@nellshawcohen.com.
Program Note
A young woman walks in a lush garden growing within high walls. Confined at home, she awaits a future that has been planned for her.
“First Footsteps” is a selection from Sauntering Songs: a concert-length cantata on the theme of walking, commissioned by Skylark Vocal Ensemble.
My lyrics for this song were sparked in part by Rebecca Solnit’s writing in Wanderlust: A History of Walking on the ways in which women have historically been confined to domestic environments, and how past literary depictions of women walking take place in private gardens rather than public spaces.
This song is dedicated to women and girls who walk beyond the boundaries they are given.
Performance History
Visit the Sauntering Songs page for performance history.