1999
The Sunflowers
Composed by 
Lori Laitman
Lori Laitman Text by 
Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver Sunflowers Song Collection
"The Sunflowers" is a song by Lori Laitman setting the poetry of Mary Oliver. The song is part of Laitman's song cycle Sunflowers.
The composer's note and the first two audio selections are made possible courtesy of the composer. The third audio selection is made possible through a collaboration between the Hampsong Foundation and SongFest. In this audio clip, the performers are Leann Schuering, soprano, and Andrew Rosenblum, piano.
Listen
“The Sunflowers” (from “Sunflowers”)
Sari Gruber (soprano) & Lori Laitman (piano)5:29
“The Sunflowers” (from “Sunflowers”)
Natalie Mann (soprano) & Jeffrey Panko (piano)5:38
“The Sunflowers” (from “Sunflowers”)
Leann Schuering (soprano) & Andrew Rosenblum (piano)4:57
Composer's Note
“Adelaide Whitaker commissioned ‘The Sunflowers’ as a gift to her voice teacher Thomas Houser, who introduced her to the joys of poetry and specifically to the poetry of Mary Oliver. Mary Oliver’s work presented unique challenges because her poems were longer and more complex than much of the poetry I had previously set. Richly atmospheric, these songs run the gamut of tempos and moods. ‘The Sunflowers’ opens with a swaying piano accompaniment meant to portray sunflowers standing in a field.”
–Lori Laitman
Sheet Music