About this project

WALLACE'S NEW WORK, Epitafio a un Pajaro (Epitaph for a Bird) SET TO LORCA POEM

YOU CAN HEAR THE ENTIRE MIDI FILE OF EPITAFIO (and read the poetry) AT SOUNDCLOUD: Epitafio a un Pajaro by Frank Wallace

For three years a song in honor of Mariposa Museum co-founder Linda Marsella has been incubating in my mind and heart. Linda was a dreamer, a visionary who died at a tragically young age in 2007. The 75th anniversary of the death of Spain's great poet Federico Garcia Lorca this year inspired me to finish the piece. Scored for flute, mezzo-soprano and two classical guitars, I wrote the work to Garcia Lorca's poem of the same name.  It is my thank you to the Museum for all their support of Duo LiveOak and of the southern NH community in general.

We are raising funds to pay for four performers in three concerts as well as publicity and score preparation. The project will be funded in part by the venues and, hopefully, a NH State Arts Council Project Matching grant. The final concert will feature the new work as well as other songs by Frank Wallace and Jose Lezcano at the Mariposa Museum this coming July. At that time the piece will be professionally recorded.

The Mariposa Museum was born of fire and the brilliant vision of two people. After the destruction of the Baptist Church on January 1, 1999, Linda Marsella and David Blair fought and won to create a fabulous and truly unique institution. Since July 2002, the Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center has brought cultural projects from around the world to the students and community of the Monadnock Region and beyond.

“Epitafio a un pajaro” (Epitaph for a Bird) is a song based on a poem by Federico Garcia Lorca. It concludes with “And this night I will send / to cover your body / an enormous butterfly / of my only kiss. Remember!" Lorca was a favorite of Linda’s and this poem was read at her memorial service on 07/07/07. She dreamed of a peaceful and connected world and wanted to bring the world to New England's doorstep by providing extraordinary programs and celebrations of world cultures.

Three performances will show off the composition with the skills of four NH musicians including two recipients of the NH Fellowship Award, Frank Wallace, guitar and Jose Lezcano, guitar; along with Nancy Knowles, mezzo-soprano and Jennifer Yeaton-Paris, flute. Each performance will be part of larger celebrations: Concord Community Music School is honoring their Anniversary Weekend with a faculty concert on March 25; the first Keene State College Guitar Festival is on April 8; and the Mariposa Museum will sponsor an Anniversary concert in honor of Linda in July. The final concert will feature the new work as well as other songs by Frank Wallace and Jose Lezcano. At that time the piece will be professionally recorded. The project will reach students, faculty and community members throughout the State and your contribution will greatly enhance the events that are already organized, but do not have sufficient funds to hire multiple musicians.

Frank Wallace, composer/guitarist