Composer Michael Markowski and tenor Timothy Stoddard have released a recording of “Mortally Wounded,” a new song cycle for tenor and piano.

The song composition and musicalization work was done from long-distance, due to the pandemic with fine-tuning done through audio and cellular video clips. The final recording was made in Pittsburgh along with pianist Ellen Fast.

The piece represents Markowski’s first foray into classical vocal composition. The pandemic forced him to put aside his usual work and discovered a new facet of his abilities through the heartbreaking poetry of Federico García Lorca, with texts that invoke unrequited love. The song cycle is stylistically influenced by traditional song and contemporary musical theatre, with a slight touch of cante jondo of Flamenco.

This is the first collaboration between Markowski and Stoddard.

Audiences can listen to the cycle on Apple Music, Spotify and other major platforms.