1991
I Will Breathe a Mountain
Composed by 
William Bolcom
William Bolcom 
Song Collection
I Will Breath a Mountain: A Song Cycle from American Women Poets was commissioned for mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne.
The audio recordings from I Will Breathe a Mountain are made possible through a collaboration between the Hampsong Foundation and SongFest. The performers in "How to Swing Those Obbligatos Around" are the Marc and Eva Stern SongFest 2012 Fellow, Kate Tombaugh, mezzo-soprano, and Bobby Pace, piano. The performers in "The Bustle in a House" are the SongFest 2012 Marc and Eva Stern Fellows Laura Choi Stuart, soprano and Javier Arrebola, piano, and the performances took place at SongFest 2012 at The Colburn School.
Listen
“How To Swing Those Obbligatos Around” (from “I Will Breathe a Mountain”)
Kate Tombaugh (mezzo-soprano) & Bobby Pace (piano)2:16
“The Bustle in a House” (from “I Will Breathe a Mountain”)
Laura Choi Stuart (soprano) & Javier Arrebola (piano)1:51
About
William Bolcom writes the following note at the beginning of the score:
Marilyn Horne requested a cycle made up of poems by American women. I felt that, although I could have put together an anthology myself, the cycle would have a very strong profile if the selections were made with the aid of an American woman poet, and I accordingly asked my friend Alice Fulton for help; she then gave me a list of around 30 poems. Marilyn Horne then told me which of those she liked, I added those I liked, and that is how the selection was made.
Songs
Pity Me Not Because the Light of Day1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomEdna St. Vincent MillayHow To Swing Those Obbligatos Around1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomAlice FultonThe Crazy Woman1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomGwendolyn BrooksJust Once1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomAnne SextonNever More Will The Wind1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomH. D.The Sage1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomDenise LevertovO To Be a Dragon1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomMarianne MooreThe Bustle in a House1990 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomEmily DickinsonI Saw Eternity1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomLouise BoganNight Practice1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomMay SwensonThe Fish1991 · I Will Breathe a MountainWilliam BolcomElizabeth Bishop
Related Information
SongFest Website
songfest.usVideo
Sheet Music
I Will Breathe a Mountain
William Bolcom
1. Pity Me Not Because the Light of Day
2. How To Swing Those Obbligatos Around
3. The Crazy Woman
4. Just Once Text: Anne Sexton
5. Never More Will The Wind
6. The Sage Text: Denise Levertov
7. O To Be a Dragon
8. The Bustle in a House
9. I Saw Eternity
10. Night Practice
11. The Fish
2. How To Swing Those Obbligatos Around
3. The Crazy Woman
4. Just Once Text: Anne Sexton
5. Never More Will The Wind
6. The Sage Text: Denise Levertov
7. O To Be a Dragon
8. The Bustle in a House
9. I Saw Eternity
10. Night Practice
11. The Fish