"Love's Austere and Lonely Offices": An Analysis of Tom Cipullo's "America 1968"

Abstract

My study reveals how the music of Tom Cipullo's America 1968 mirrors the theme of adversity leading to resolution as found in the poetry of Robert Hayden. This study should serve the purposes of investigating Cipullo's music in relationship to Hayden's poetry, and be a practical tool for anyone interested in performing these marvelous pieces. This study contains an introduction, a systematic look at each poem and song, and a conclusion reflecting upon my findings.