Classical music for western Mass.

Because I Could Not Stop: An Encounter with Emily Dickinson

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Angelica Page as Emily Dickinson

Excerpts of "Because I Could Not Stop," based on Emily Dickinson’s poems and letters with music by Amy Beach.

"Because I Could Not Stop" is a coproduction of the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts, the Ensemble for the Romantic Century of New York City and the Emily Dickinson Museum of Amherst and was funded by the Augustine Foundation.

"Because I Could Not Stop" was written by James Melo and directed by Don Sanders. This program includes excerpts from the show.

Angelica Page plays Emily Dickinson.

Music was performed by The Victory Players:
Rita Wang and Giancarlo Latta, violins
Rosemary Nelis, viola
Clare Monfredo, cello
Marie-Elise Boyer-Brown, piano
with Kristina Bacharach, soprano
Tian Hui Ng, Music Director

Amy Beach

Amy Beach compositions featured:

  • Theme and Variations for Flute and String Quartet, op.80 (Theme portion performed by a string quartet)
  • Morning Glories, op 97 no.1 (piano solo)
  • Piano Trio, op 150 (third movement)
  • Promenade from Children’s Carnival Op 25 (piano solo)
  • Ah, Love, but a Day!, op 44 no. 2 (soprano & piano)
  • Stella Viatoris, op 110 no.2 (soprano, piano, violin & cello)
  • The Hermit Thrush at Eve, op 92 no. 1 (piano solo)
  • Piano Quintet, op 67
Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson poems & letters featured:
All poems number refer to the numbering system used by R.W. Franklin
• Poem #260
• excerpt of letter to Abiah Root, February 23, 1845
• excerpt of letter to Thomas Wentworth Higginson, April 25, 1862
• Poem #1650
• Poem #935
• excerpt of letter to Thomas Wentworth Higginson, date unknown
• excerpt of letter to Abiah Root, May 7, 1845
• Poem #479
• Poem #466

"Because I Could Not Stop" was recorded at Holyoke Media in January 2024 by Alan Mattes.

The broadcast of "Because I Could Not Stop" is hosted by Kaliis Smith, co-host of The Fabulous 413, and produced for Classical NEPM by John Voci.

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John Voci is Senior Director, Radio, at New England Public Media.