Inspired by Schubert’s art songs (especially those with instrumental obbligato), Eric Ewazen’s A SUMMER’S JOURNEY is a five song cycle for high voice, oboe, and piano on poems found in Schubert lieder (in English translation). “The five poems I chose,” says the composer, “are filled with beautiful imagery, an emphasis on nature, and heartfelt description of personal feelings; feelings of love, of sorrow, of longing, of happiness, of contentment. The music continually reflects the ever-changing moods of these beautiful and powerful words. The soprano and oboe sometimes alternate melodies, with the oboe commenting on the soprano’s emotions, but sometimes the two join together in soaring and lyrical duets.”This set of performance materials includes two full scores for the singer and pianist, as well as a part for the oboist.