Liz Queler

About Renascence:In the summer of 2012, when Seth and I were promoting "The Edna Project" (our CD of songs set to poetry by Edna St. Vincent Millay), we were invited to perform in Millay’s hometown of Camden, ME. It was a celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of the poet’s recitation of her epic poem “Renascence.” A series of 107 rhyming couplets that describe a terrifying but exhilarating spiritual awakening, the poem famously launched her career when she delivered it to a rapt audience at a Camden Inn, attracting the attention of a benefactor who enabled her to attend Vassar.

We had just started rehearsing for the event when Seth got booked as musical director for a show in New York AND Joey was in the cast. There went the band. With a compelling need for an hour of material I could deliver solo, I embarked on the daunting task of setting “Renascence.” I spent much of that summer sequestered, and emerged with a 20-minute Americana odyssey which debuted in Camden to a crowd of Millay fans, mouthing the words along with me (!). A few years later we included it in our full program at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, sponsored by the MEF (Musician’s Emergency Fund) concert series. Shortly thereafter we recorded it with the wonderful violinist Justin Smith.for bio: www.lizqueler.com