Two Poems of Robert Frost

by David Campo

10'45" / 2023 

Robert Frost (1874 - 1963) was one of the most popular, widely read and honored American poets of the 20th century; the two of his poems arguably most popular in the mainstream are “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening” and “The Road Not Taken.” On the surface, these two poems appear quite different; “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening” is contemplative, set in the quietude of a winter night’s snow, while “The Road Not Taken” is decisive, kinetic and brightly lit by a morning sun. However, the philosophical and spiritual essence of the poems is the same: both ultimately address the trajectory of a person’s life in the context of the limited amount of time available in our lifetime. These similarities and differences resonated deeply with the composer, and the opportunity to set recurring themes and melodies in such contrasting musical environments was the impetus and inspiration for this two movement work. Both movements conjure the remarkably different atmospheres of the respective poems but are interconnected thematically, giving the work cohesion and depth. Both are strikingly colorful and evocative. While the poems are not set literally, there are recurring allusions to the words present in the rhythm, particularly in the phrase “and miles to go before I sleep,” as this line seems to especially reflect the physical and spiritual duality of both poems.