Frostiana
     by Randall Thompson

Randall Thompson was commissioned to compose a piece to celebrate another 200th anniversary, similar to The Testament of Freedom, but this time the excitement focused on the incorporation of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts.

It was suggested that the poetry of Robert Frost, "The Gift Outright" be used as a basis, since Frost had lived for a time in Amherst.  Thompson, who was a friend of Frost's, agreed to use his work, but instead of the suggested poem, he chose to compose a suite of seven poems, and titled it Frostiana.  

A common thread unites the poems by emphasizing the importance of the many small choices we are called to make throughout life.  Subtitled Seven Country Songs, the poems he selected provide a nostalgic glimpse of rural New England life. Thompson advises us to travel the road not taken, to keep our promises before we sleep, to focus our minds upon something like a star.

Randall Thompson conducted the premiere at the Bicentennial Commemoration on October 18, 1959.  A group of singers from throughout the township, The Bicentennial Chorus, was accompanied on the piano, as the orchestration of the work was not completed until 1965.

Robert Frost attended, and according to one account of the event, was so delighted at the end of Choose Something Like a Star, that he jumped to his feet and shouted, "Sing that again!"  Another account claims that Frost was disgusted by the abuse of his poetry and forbade any of his works' being set to music again.  Come to our performance on May 31st and see what you think!

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