Spellbound

“Spellbound” by Emily Brontë is a beautiful, yet devastating poem. The poet writes about feeling “bound” by a strange spell; and yet, she cannot go. The wind and the trees billow around her, and yet she remains immobile; whether this is up to her own volition is up to reader interpretation. This piece uses aleatory and “wind” noises in order to reinforce the imagery of the world moving, while we stand still. The meaning behind the text is left up to reader interpretation, however, in this setting I have chosen to portray it as a reflection on the author's struggle with depression. Wind noises bookend this piece, symbolizing the speaker's continued immobility. You'll also hear whispers of, “and I will not, cannot go” something that the speaker hears from not only the wind, but herself. “But nothing drear can move me; I will not, cannot go.”

Performed live by Choral Arts Initiative. Brandon Elliott, Artistic Director.