Instrumentation: Solo soprano and piano

Duration: 5’50

Premiere: April 29, 2021 at Daniel Recital Hall in Greenville, SC

Performers: Wallis Lucas and Brent Funderburk

Program Notes: The Butterfly Effect is a brief song cycle for solo soprano and piano describing the metaphor of a small action, such as a butterfly flapping its wings, completely altering the direction and behavior of a large tornado/storm. In order to depict this concept, two poems relating to storms were incorporated for the cycle. The first song’s text, “Storm,” by Emma Lazarus depicts the storm beginning. The second song’s text, “Storm Ending,” by Jean Toomer depicts the storm finally ending.

Email me (williecornishjr@gmail.com) to see portions of the score.