Forgetfulness —2015
Program Notes
Poet Billy Collins has a remarkable way of examining profound and complex subjects—such as memory loss—with a delicate and often humorous touch. His poem “Forgetfulness” has deep resonance for me as I have watched my mother disappear into the fog of dementia over the past decade. In this song cycle, I have set Collin’s poem 3 times, first as written, followed by two reprises which fragment the poem. In between the settings of Collins’ poem I have placed brief songs about Namenda, a drug used to treat dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
“Forgetfulness” was composed for Randall Scarlata, the Daedalus Quartet, and Marcantonio Barone.
Permissions: Lyrics from the poem “Forgetfulness” from Questions About Angels, by Billy Collins, © 1991. All rights controlled by the University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Used by permission of University of Pittsburgh Press. Directions on how to take Namenda and Side Effects of Namenda from drugs.com
Movements
1. Forgetfulness
2. Dosage
3. Forgetfulness (reprise 1)
4. Side Effects
5. Forgetfulness (reprise 2)
Texts
1. Forgetfulness
~Billy Collins
The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,
as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.
Long ago you kissed the names of the nine Muses goodbye
and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag,
and even now as you memorize the order of the planets,
something else is slipping away, a state flower perhaps,
the address of an uncle, the capital of Paraguay.
Whatever it is you are struggling to remember,
it is not poised on the tip of your tongue,
not even lurking in some obscure corner of your spleen.
It has floated away down a dark mythological river
whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall,
well on your own way to oblivion where you will join those
who have even forgotten how to swim and how to ride a bicycle.
No wonder you rise in the middle of the night
to look up the date of a famous battle in a book on war.
No wonder the moon in the window seems to have drifted
out of a love poem that you used to know by heart.
2. Dosage
~drugs.com
Take this drug exactly as it was prescribed for you.
Follow all directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended release capsule.
Swallow it whole.
Take this medication with a full glass of water.
This medication can be taken with or without food.
The liquid form of this medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use.
Do not mix the oral solution with any other liquids.
Rinse the empty oral syringe with clean water and allow it to dry after every use.
It is important to use this medication regularly to get the most benefit.
Get your prescription refilled before you run out of the medicine completely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Keep the liquid medicine bottle tightly closed with the cap provided.
Do not store the bottle with the oral syringe in it.
Follow these directions carefully.
3. Forgetfulness (reprise 1)
The name of the author is the first to go
entire novel
never even heard of
never even
as if, as if, as if,
one by one, by one, by one
decided to retire
The name of the author is
fishing village little fishing village fishing village
The name of the author is
of the author
name
the name
Long ago you kissed the names…
Long ago you kissed the names…
Long ago, long ago you kissed, you kissed, you kissed
long ago, long ago, long ago…
A, B, C…
A, B, C, D…
A, B, C, D, E…
D, E…
E, F…
floated away
floated, floated away
forgotten how to swim, how to swim
forgotten how
how to swim
how to ride a bicycle
how to ride
No wonder
middle of the night
middle of the night
No wonder the moon, the moon
love poem, love poem
that you
middle of the night
know
you used to know
that you used to
love poem
love poem
the moon
4. Side Effects
~drugs.com
Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
Less serious side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite;
- dizziness, tired feeling;
- weight loss;
- swelling in your hands or feet;
- fast heart rate;
- easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
- joint pain;
- anxiety, aggression;
- skin rash;
- redness or swelling of or around your eyes; or
- urinating more than usual.
Stop using this drug and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- fever, chest pain, trouble breathing;
- sudden numbness;
- confusion, hallucinations;
- sudden weakness, especially on one side of the body;
- lack of coordination;
- fainting or seizure (convulsions);
- urinating less than usual or not at all;
- pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or
- increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure).
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:
- hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.
5. Forgetfulness (reprise 2)
the name
the name
you kissed
you kissed
you memorize
you memorize
floated away
floated away
you used to know
you used to know
by heart
