Fusing contemporary art song with pop and alternative rock, Songs in the Dark is a musical exploration into the dark, haunting and evocative poetry of Emily Brontë (1818-1848) and John Donne (1572-1631). 1. I'll Not Weep (poem "Stanzas" by Emily Brontë) 2. Air & Angels (poem "Air and Angels" by John Donne) 3. The Night is Darkening (poem "The Night is Darkening" by Emily Brontë) 4. Interlude: Frozen (piano solo) 5. Fall, Leaves, Fall (poem "Fall, Leaves, Fall" by Emily Brontë) Jennifer Bellor, composer and singer Christina Wright-Ivanova, piano Jason Corpuz, synth Summer Kodama, electric bass Ron George, mixing at University of Nevada, Las Vegas Chuck Foley, recording at University of Nevada, Las Vegas Gil Kaupp, mastering Zen Ritual Creative Services, album cover photo Praised as “creating her own world of music with symbolisms, imagery, and poetry all fused together to form a creative synergy that is distinctly hers” (No Depression) and having the ability to “maintain a highly individual identity without needing to take refuge in pre-post-genre musical silos” (Frank J. Oteri, NewMusicBox), composer Jennifer Bellor writes music that is inspired by personal experiences, text, and imagery. Her music has been presented by Washington National Opera, American Composer’s Orchestra JCOI Readings, Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, Las Vegas Philharmonic, ShoutHouse, and many others in the US and abroad. Bellor’s music draws on a variety of influences, evidenced in her debut album “Stay,” which is a melting pot of different music styles largely based on poetry. Stay was featured on NewMusicBox’s 2016 Staff picks, and her composition Chase the Stars has received critical acclaim not only for its “dazzling eclecticism” combining opera, hip hop and jazz, but also for her singing. No Depression’s Stacey Zering proclaimed: “Bellor’s gorgeously haunting vocals hypnotizes in “Chase the Stars” like a seemingly innocent mermaid who will later capture you with no intentions of bringing you back.” Born and raised in Northern NY, Bellor earned a PhD in music composition at Eastman School of Music, a Master of Music degree in composition at Syracuse University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music at Cornell University. The 2016 winner of The American Prize for her composition Chase the Stars, Bellor also has received awards by Elevate Ensemble for Moments Shared, Moments Lost, IAWM Judith Lang Zaimont prize for Skylark Lullaby, Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra Composition prize for Noir, and a Downbeat Award for Midnight Swim. Her primary composition teachers included David Liptak, Bob Morris, Andrew Waggoner, Sally Lamb-McCune, and Steven Stucky. She is currently Visiting Lecturer at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she teaches courses in music composition and theory. Lyrics I. I’ll Not Weep (poem “Stanzas” by Emily Brontë) I’ll not weep that thou art going to leave me, There’s nothing lovely here; And doubly will the dark world grieve me, While thy heart suffers there. I’ll not weep, because the summer’s glory Must always end in gloom; And, follow out the happiest story— It closes with a tomb! And I am weary of the anguish Increasing winters bear; Weary to watch the spirit languish Through years of dead despair. So, if a tear, when thou art dying, Should haply fall from me, It is but that my soul is sighing, To go and rest with thee. II. Air & Angels (excerpt from poem “Air and Angels” by John Donne) Twice or thrice had I lov’d thee, Before I knew thy face or name; So in a voice, so in a shapeless flame Angels affect us oft, and worshipp’d be; Still when, to where thou wert, I came, Some lovely glorious nothing I did see. But since my soul, whose child love is, Takes limbs of flesh, and else could nothing do, More subtle than the parent is Love must not be, but take a body too; And therefore what thou wert, and who, I bid Love ask, and now That it assume thy body, I allow, And fix itself in thy lip, eye, and brow. III. The Night is Darkening (poem “The Night is Darkening Round Me” by Emily Brontë) The night is darkening round me, The wild winds coldly blow; But a tyrant spell has bound me, And I cannot, cannot go. The giant trees are bending Their bare boughs weighed with snow; The storm is fast descending, And yet I cannot go. Clouds beyond clouds above me, Wastes beyond wastes below; But nothing drear can move me; I will not, cannot go. IV. Interlude: Frozen piano solo performed by Christina Wright-Ivanova V. Fall, Leaves, Fall (poem “Fall, Leaves, Fall” by Emily Brontë) Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; Lengthen night and shorten day; Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree. I shall smile when wreaths of snow Blossom where the rose should grow; I shall sing when night’s decay Ushers in a drearier day.