DIANA BURRELL (b. 1948)Love Song (with Yoga) (2008)

This chapter describes Diana Burrell’s Love Song (with Yoga) (2008). A characteristic breath of fresh air, this brief song glories in the physical act of singing, and would make an ideal introduction to a recital, as a robust fanfare. The singer need have no fear of plotting the wide-scattered pitches accurately—an extremely spare piano part traces the vocal line, prompting with subtle cues throughout. Words are set quite high, especially in the first part of the piece, so the singer may need to cover and modify some vowels and keep them open without losing syllabic clarity. There are a good number of quick patterns and short single notes to be flung exuberantly into the air and these must ring out without strain. A naturally high-placed voice should have no difficulty here. The tessitura eventually becomes lower just before the sudden surprise ending.