Laws for Creations (2008/Arr. 2024)

Tenor and piano. 3 1/2 mins.

Text by Walt Whitman.

Perusal Score

View perusal score.

Score available for purchase. Please direct inquiries to Nell Shaw Cohen at nell@nellshawcohen.com.

Program Note

Presented here in a new version for tenor, Laws for Creations is one of my earliest compositions for classical voice: an art song originally written in 2008 for baritone. I was compelled by Walt Whitman’s treatment of the themes of creativity and self-determination, and sought to respond to the spirit of his poetry in my musical setting.”

Text

Laws for Creations,
For strong artists and leaders—for fresh broods of
teachers, and perfect literats for America,
For noble savans, and coming musicians.

All must have reference to the ensemble of the world,
and the compact truth of the world;
There shall be no subject too pronounced—All works
shall illustrate the divine law of indirections.

What do you suppose Creation is?
What do you suppose will satisfy the Soul, except to
walk free, and own no superior?
What do you suppose I would intimate to you in a hun-
dred ways, but that man or woman is as good as
God?
And that there is no God any more divine than Your-
self?
And that that is what the oldest and newest myths
finally mean?
And that you or any one must approach Creations
through such laws?

“Laws for Creations” by Walt Whitman from “Leaves of Grass” (1871 edition).

Performance History

Burchfield Penney Art Center Buffalo Opera Unlimited (Alexander Kosmowski, tenor and Matthew Marco, piano), Buffalo, NY, 8/4/24.

For performance history of baritone version, see Songs for Baritone.