Zachary Ridgway premieres The Cough Drop Song in San Antonio
The Cough Drop Song (2014), for singing pianist
Duration: c. 5:30 minutes
Bass Voice, F#2-C4 range*, with piano
*if transposition is requested, please contact the composer
| The Cough Drop Song – Lyrics This is a song about audience participation. A pet peeve, a cardinal sin? Affliction of the cultured. Maybe it’s worse than cell phones going off during a slow movement. Let’s begin. I am dressed to a tee and come out for a bow. I have practiced hundreds of hours… The bench height is right. The exposition goes great. Suddenly I hear it start and then it’s too late: A cough drop wrapper! You can blow your nose during my arpeggios.You can rummage in your purse.But, please, please DON’T unleash this aural curse.
Get out another cough drop. I have practiced not to get distracted. Don’t need silence while I play. The audience and I could listen to your lozenges all day. -Refrain- Live performance is so tricky, as timing is everythin’. You resist until the music becomes pianissimo, then the crinkling can begin! Crinkle, crackle, ripple, rumple, crumple, wrinkle, crease. -Refrain- In avoiding a cough you make people scoff. Few things are worse than this cure. Maybe next time if you truly care, bring your cough drops unwrapped, in a tupperware?! You’re right. Concert hall acoustics are perfect for the delicate sound of crinkling plastic. -Refrain- Words & Music (c) 2014 by Yvonne Freckmann |
Originally from Tennessee, pianist Zachary Ridgway grew up largely in Sofia, Bulgaria. An alumnus of Baylor University, Zachary is an eager performer with a strong interest in the music of Scriabin and of Messiaen. He is also an avid collaborator and chamber musician. |
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