A one-act opera based on four poems by e. e. cummings: “now two old ladies sit peacefully knitting,” “may i feel said he,” “i like my body when it is with your,” and “don’t get me wrong oblivion.” 14 minutes. Music by Christopher Hossfeld. Orchestration: oboe, bass clarinet, piano, violin, cello, and singers. First performance during VI, A Night of Student Opera Premiers, November 1999, Harvard University; David Salvage, Music Director; sponsored by the Harvard-Radcliffe Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Score

Download a pdf of the score below (for study purposes only):

1. •hossfeld_stitch_counting.pdf
   

For performance rights and materials, please contact the composer by e-mail at ch@christopherhossfeld.com.

Recording

Use the controls above to play a brief section of the piece, or download a full recording here:

1. •stitch_counting_full.mp3 (13:31)
   

Live recording, Harvard University, November 1999.

1. •Susan Long, Woman
   

2. •David Salvage, Conductor
   

Characters

Man (tenor)

Woman (soprano)

Narrator (tenor)

Two Old Ladies, sometimes and always (mezzos)

Plot Synopsis

1. now two old ladies sit peacefully knitting

1. •Narrator, Two Old Ladies, Woman
   

2. may i feel said he

1. •Narrator, Man, Woman
   

3. i like my body when it is with your

1. •Narrator, Man
   

4. don’t get me wrong oblivion (playing above)

1. •Woman
   

Copyright ©2010 Christopher Hossfeld, All Rights Reserved. "now two old ladies sit peacefully knitting,", "may i feel said he", "i like my body when it is with your", and "don’t get me wrong oblivion" from COMPLETE POEMS: 1904-1962, by E. E. Cummings, Edited by George J. Firmage, are used with the permission of Liveright Publishing Corporation. Copyright (c) 1923, 1925, 1935, 1951, 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1991 by the Trustees for the E. E. Cummings Trust. Copyright (c) 1973, 1976, 1978, 1983 by George James Firmage.