The Poet by Maria Weissman: Review

by admin October 4, 2024

October 4, 2024

“The Poet” by Maria Weissman is a hauntingly intimate and emotional piece that tributes personal history, and profound artistic expression, and explores literary legacy. Released on September 13, 2024, the song is a tribute to her grandfather, Norman Weissman, who had once studied under Robert Frost at Dartmouth, and a nod to the artistic giants in her family lineage. This collaborative project began during the pandemic lockdown, where, despite living on opposite coasts, Maria and Norman worked together to transform his unpublished poems into music.

“The Poet” itself opens with soft, delicate piano melodies and underscores the gentle beauty of Maria’s soprano voice. Her vocals start breathy and tender, building into powerful, belting moments with a vibrato, swelling and ringing gorgeously. There’s a subtle but undeniable strength and power in her delivery, while being vulnerable and open as she comes. She reminds you that in softness lies strength. Though the song is short, at only 1 minute and 24 seconds, it leaves a lasting impression with its emotional weight and the rawness of its sentiment.

“The Poet” carries even greater significance due to the timing of its completion. Norman was diagnosed with cancer during the project and could only hear the rough recordings on the morning he passed. Beyond just a single track, Maria unearthed the personal archives of her great-grandfather, Arthur Millier, a renowned artist and art critic, she found tangible connections to her creative lineage.

Maria wraps it up with the legendary photo of Robert Frost and Norman Weissman in 1947 as the cover art. Listen to “The Poet” by Maria Weissman if you love the art of preserving art and souls alike in creatively fascinating ways.