The Lighthearted Lovers

Composer's Note

“The Lighthearted Lovers” began as a song for tenor written in 1948 as an assignment when I was a first-year harmony student at Stanford. It was a simple song with a simple piano accompaniment. Three decades later, when I was composing my first opera, 'Tartuffe,” I remembered this song and recognized that the text would be perfect for the saucy maid Dorine. Using the same basic melody, I extended the aria by adding instrumental interpolations and fickle-sounding woodwind staccato. Dryden’s original title, “Fair Iris I love,” indicates that the poem was written from a man’s point of view. I changed “Iris” to “Robin,” so that it could refer to either sex.

The aria is included in Schirmer's album of Soprano Arias; it is one of the most often sung American arias for high soprano. It can be turned into a “battle of the sexes” in the choral adaptation, and some choral groups have staged it that way, as in the 1987 ACDA national convention.

Commentary

“… a sure-fire hit. I have used this wonderful piece in university festivals and for all-state choirs around the country; it always works.”
— Charlene Archibeque, conductor