Lightly Stepped a Yellow Star by Dan Forrest
Text: Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Dan Forrest’s program notes for “Lightly Stepped a Yellow Star” based on text by Emily Dickinson, the second movement of his “Three Nocturnes”:

The second movement, “Lightly stepped a yellow star”, paints its wonderful text with staccato singing in an additive contrapuntal texture. Again, a middle section provides contrast; but this time, the contrast is velvety and ethereal, with hints of the energetic first section popping up between phrases. The A section then returns, leading up to the one-word “punchline” of the poem- “punctual”. To further paint the “time” element, the music provides several allusions to clock-work, including a machine-like “cogs and gears” feeling, and even a veiled quote of Big Ben!

Publisher: Hinshaw Music (C) 2008
Performed by Bel Canto Company
Welborn Young, conductor
Christy Wisuthseriwong, piano
Recorded August 2022 at the Virginia Somerville Sutton Theatre, Greensboro, NC