Voices from Afar. Three songs for baritone and symphony orchestra to words by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz (1981)

The work was commissioned by the Committee for the Celebrations of Karol Szymanowski’s 100th Birthday. Its world premiere took place in 1982, after the composer’s death. Out of three poems by Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz (Examination, Appasionata and In the church), the composer selected several fragments and composed a “drama in three acts” presenting the dilemmas of a man standing at the threshold of eternity: I. Standing by the eternal lake, II. Night, III. In the church.

There are many elements testifying to a “neo-romantic” expression of the piece. What comes to the fore is a clear division into consonances and dissonances, both in the melody and in the chords. However, this reference to tradition is unconnected with tonal harmony, despite the fact that there are cadence-like fragments, with the whole being “stabilised” by the central notes. The harmonic layer of the piece determines its euphonic nature. We will also find in it sublime illustrative, onomatopoeic effects, which is a reference to the Baroque musical rhetoric, theory of artefacts or 19th century “sound painting”. What also plays an important role is a reference to tradition by means of a quote from the funeral sequence Dies irae. It is present throughout the composition in several variants. This is the only reference to religious music in Baird’s oeuvre.

Voices from Afrar was a special composition for its author, because it grew from a sense of artistic affinity with Szymanowski; in addition, it heralded Baird’s new way of artistic expression. Unfortunately, the composer’s sudden death put an end to further development of his lyrical and dramatic talent.