The Blonde Assassin

The Blonde Assassin is one of two songs (along with Leaves Are My Flowers Now) written for the The Schubert Club Songbook, a project initiated by the American Composers Forum as a tribute to Bruce Carlson (1940-2006), the Schubert Club’s long-time executive director. Bruce was one of the first and most stalwart supporters of the Forum, freely sharing his expertise and office space. He could also be laconic and quirky in his comments, not unlike Emily Dickinson’s poetry.

The Blonde Assassin

Apparently with no surprise
To any happy Flower
The Frost beheads it at it’s play –
In accidental power –
The blonde Assassin passes on –
The Sun proceeds unmoved
To measure off another Day
For an Approving God –

–Emily Dickinson
(1830-1886)

Premiered June 13, 2008, by Maria Jette, soprano, and Sonja Thompson, piano
at the SPCO Center, Hamm Building, St. Paul, MN.