Swift Partitions by Julian Philips is a 13-minute set of songs for baritone and piano. This setting of eight short poems by American poet Emily Dickinson, each exploring her relationship to the sea, is not narrative, but instead alternates philosophical meditations on the sea (Songs 1, 3, 5 & 8) with more immediate "encounters": a surreal walk with the sea (Song 2), two near drownings (Songs 4 & 5) and a river's almost erotic desire to join the ocean (Song 8).
1. An Everywhere of Silver
2. I started Early – took my Dog
3. Though the great Waters sleep
4. The waters chased him as he fled
5. Water makes many Beds
6. Three times – we parted – Breath – and I
7. Fortitude incarnate
8. My River runs to thee
Completed in June 1998, Swift Partitions was commissioned by the Welsh baritone Jeremy Huw Williams, with funds from the Arts Council of Wales, and premiered with pianist Nigel Foster, at St Mary's Church Warwick, on 9 July 1998.
The score (EP 73505) is available for sale.
An Everywhere of Silver; I started Early – took my Dog; Though the great Waters sleep; The waters chased him as he fled; Water makes manyBeds; Three times – we parted – Breath – and I; Fortitude incarnate; My River runs to thee
