The music of American composer, Lori Laitman, has charmed and impressed many art song enthusiasts, inspiring both admiration and devotion. Having written over 200 art songs, the American composer has continually earned the respect of critics as well as other composers, and perhaps most of all, singers. Her great respect for and assiduous attention to text and melody, in an age where something as simple as a memorable melody can seem scarce, has won her a place within the hearts of many. Known for her lyric writing - her soaring phrases and brilliant climaxes – Laitman’s music is both rewarding, and at times, deceptively difficult. Her music has been recorded and performed by numerous professional artists, and has finally landed the composer an entry in the eminent Grove Dictionary of American Music (which will be added to the 2012 edition).
Along with a biography of the composer, this paper takes a look at Laitman’s compositional technique as applied to the song cycles Sunflowers and Early Snow. An examination of these songs reveals Laitman’s various melodic and harmonic methods used both to enhance her music as well as bind it together. This exploration provides insight into Lori Laitman’s compositional style, devices, architecture, and musical palette.