WordSong

Hear Shakespeare transformed in an intimate, interactive evening of contemporary music.

Founded in 2008 by composers Howard Frazin and Tom Schnauber, WordSong is Boston’s premier interactive concert organization, dedicated to reconnecting audiences and performers through shared, participatory musical experiences. Blending live performance with open dialogue, WordSong invites listeners into the creative process, fostering a deeper, more intuitive understanding of new music. For over 17 years, WordSong has presented more than 100 performances, including over 70 new works across the U.S. and internationally, engaging texts ranging from Theodore Roethke to Langston Hughes.

WordSong Forum XVI centers on William Shakespeare’s “Full fathom five thy father lies” (The Tempest), featuring four new musical settings by Howard Frazin, Tom Schnauber, Nick Davies, and Lansing McLoskey, performed by soprano Carley DeFranco, clarinetist Nick Davies, and pianist Wesley Ducote.

Each forum begins with a shared reading of the text, followed by performances and a guided conversation between audience, composers, and performers. Through repeated listening and discussion, WordSong creates a space for communal reflection, revealing the many ways a single text can inspire diverse musical and emotional interpretations.