JWPEPPER EDITOR’S CHOICE SELECTION

One of my favorite poems by Emily Brontë is “Fall, leaves, fall”, in which she depicts a speaker who finds beauty and bliss within things that others may not. The poem accomplishes this through its setting, in which autumn is on the cusp of fading away into the cold winter season. While the transition between these two seasons is often depicted as representing death, it is interesting to note that the speaker emphasizes certain other words - for example, “fall” repeatedly, or “fluttering” - as if they find comfort and peace during this time as opposed to experiencing fear and uncertainty.

”From the autumn tree” is a musical depiction of this poem for string orchestra, lyrical in tone yet intentionally subdued and restrained in nature. The piece is orchestrated such that players are introduced to being featured in sections in a more expansive role (one such moment is especially included for cellos). A fluttering technique is briefly achieved in the upper strings early on. Finally, the string orchestra is given the option to mute their instruments throughout the entire work if they so choose, adding further restraint to the character of the piece yet with a softer tone and with an overall more well-rounded body of sound.