SATB + piano

NOTE FROM THE COMPOSER

Helen May Martin, born December 18, 1893, was an American pianist. Helen Keller called Martin, "the most accomplished deaf and blind person in the world."

Blind and deaf from childhood, it became immediately apparent that Martin would not be defined by her lack of sight and hearing. At an early age, she began leaning against the piano as her cousins took lessons so that she could feel the vibrations. She later said, "Music is a vibrational expression of the soul in harmony with God."

Martin's mother taught her music by touching Helen's palms, and playing while her daughter's hands were under her hands to indicate the feel and sound of notes. She was taught the different note values by touching beans - a whole note was represented by four beans, a half note by two beans, and a quarter note by one bean.

Helen listened to live radio broadcasts while holding an empty metal can in her hands to capture the vibrations. She later attended music conservatories in Wichita and Cincinnati, her mother interpreting the spoken instruction into hand signs in Helen's palms. She began giving public concerts in 1922, and toured and performed in cities across the United States for over 20 years. Helen collected sheet music in braille and other "raised" print systems, and memorized hundreds of classical compositions.

Writing of "HANDS"...

Finding a serious text about hands, face, and etc., and then "connecting" that to a real-life human experience or drama posed a two-fold challenge. After researching hundreds of ideas and texts, and with little acceptable results, I decided to convey the remarkable story of Helen May Martin through my own poetic lenses (though I am generally skeptical of composers freely assuming the mantle of a poet). I also felt it important to focus on Helen's incessant courage and desire to dominate every hurdle - demonstrated by the composition's unyielding rhythmic piano and vocal lines. The words "touch, feel, sense, and know" - like rotating planets around Helen's life - were the key to her joy and life's work.

TEXT

Touch
Feel
Sense
Know

Under the decree of fate’s circumstance
I look without seeing and hear without listening.
Now my senses three in synchronized dance
Follow a new cadence of knowing and becoming.

My hands in celestial-like tapestry,
Weave rhythms’ language in brilliant synergy.
Touching, feeling, sensing, and grasping the mystery
Of each finger in unrestrained poetry.

With your hand on mine, notes vibrated inner space
At first in disguise, then a language of touch was born -
An eternal symphony spoken in divine whispers.
This harp of broken strings is now radiance transformed!

Touch
Feel
Sense
Know