What Sweeter Music

Selected Texts from the Program

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The Music of Stillness

The inspiration for “The Music of Stillness” originated from the poem “There Will Be Rest” by Sara Teasdale, where she describes her journey from loneliness to hope through the hushed beauty of evening. One autumn night, when the weather first turned cold, I was enjoying the midwestern countryside and the entire sky was filled with stars. As the cold air hit my lungs, the expanse of the heavens took my breath away, and this is the music I heard. The music of a dream world under the stars where we can leave our troubles and find this momentary “crystal of peace” and rest. A place where beauty and calm exist, and all else fades away.

~ Elaine Hagenberg

There will be rest, and sure stars shining
Over the roof-tops crowned with snow,
A reign of rest, serene forgetting,
The music of stillness holy and low.

I will make this world of my devising
Out of a dream in my lonely mind.
I shall find the crystal of peace, –
above me
Stars I shall find.

~ Sara Teasdale

The Conversion of Saul

After the stoning of Stephen, Saul launched an all-out persecution of the early Christian church and became legendary in his pursuit to exterminate all who “believed.” But as Saul – whose name eventually became Paul – later wrote, he was blinded by a light from heaven as he traveled to Damascus and was confronted by a voice that called out to him, saying, “Saul, why do you persecute me?” This event has become known as “the conversion of Saul,” as Saul turned from his murderous deeds and spent the remainder of his life as a Christian missionary. This musical work begins with a raucous depiction of death and destruction through highly accentuated rhythmic treatment and repeated agitation of the text. A pedal tone emerges in the middle of the piece, symbolizing the “one true light.” This continuum of light brings Saul to his knees, and commissions him to a life of turning hatred into love, and bringing compassion to those around him. Caedite, vexate, ligate vinculis! Saul! (Murder, harass, bind into chains! Saul!) Vinculis, condemnate vexate! (Chain, prosecute and harass!) Why do you persecute me, Saul? Why, why, why? Fall down on your knees, turn hatred into love. Turn darkness into light. Bow down, Saul! Bow down, Saul! Saul, Saul, Saul…

Earth Song

Sing we now of Christmas, Noel sing we here. Hear our joyful praises, echoing bright and clear. Lift up your voice, O let the world rejoice! Sing we now of Christmas, Noel sing we here. Sing we now of Christmas, Noel sing we here. Spread the yuletide spirit, comfort, and good cheer. Sing out with gladness, banish any sadness. Sing we now of Christmas, Noel sing we here. Sing we now of Christmas, join the glad refrain. All the earth rejoices, hope is born again. Peace, goodwill to all, resounds the welcome call. Sing we now of Christmas, Noel, sing we here. Sing we all Noel, Gladsome are the tidings that we tell. Sing we all Noel, Joyfully we sing to you Noel. Sing Noel! Sing we now of Christmas, let the anthem ring. Glory in the highest, hear the angels sing. Join with all creation in songs of jubilation. Sing we now of Christmas, Noel sing we here. Noel sing we, sing Noel.  

Flight

Let me run thru a field in the night,
let me lift from the ground ‘til my soul is in flight.
Let me sway like the shade of a tree,
let me swirl like a cloud in a storm on the sea.

Wish me on my way thru the dawning day.
I wanna flow, wanna rise, wanna spill,
wanna grow in a grove on the side of a hill.

I don’t care if the train runs late,
if the checks don’t clear, if the house blows down.
I’ll be off where the weeds run wild,
where the seeds fall far from this earthbound town.

And I’ll start to soar.
Watch me rain ‘til I pour.
I’ll catch a ship that’ll sail me astray,
get caught in a wind, I’ll just have to obey
‘til I’m flyin’ away…

Let me leave behind all the clouds in my mind.
I wanna wake without wondering why,
finding myself in a burst for the sky.
High!

I’ll just roll.
Let me lose all control.
I wanna float like a wish in a well,
free as the sound of the sea in a shell.

I don’t know, but maybe I’m just a fool.
I should keep to the ground.
I should stay where I’m at.
Maybe everyone has hunger like this,
and the hunger will pass.
But I can’t think like that.

All I know is somewhere, thru a clearing,
there’s a flickering of sunlight on a river long and wide,
and I have such a river inside.

Let me run through a field in the night,
let me lift from the ground ‘til my soul is in flight.
Let me sway like the shade of a tree,
let me swirl like a cloud in a storm on the sea.

Wish me on my way thru the dawning day.
I wanna flow, wanna rise, wanna spill,
wanna grow on the side of a hill,
wanna shift like a wave rollin’ on,
wanna drift from the path I’ve been traveling upon,
before I am gone.

~ Craig Carnelia

 

Do Not Be Afraid

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name;
you are mine.

When you walk through the waters,
I’ll be with you;
you will never sink beneath the waves.
When the fire is burning all around you,
you will never be consumed by the flames.
Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name;
you are mine.

When the fear of loneliness is looming,
then remember I am at your side.
When you dwell in the exile of a stranger,
remember you are precious in my eyes.
Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name;
you are mine.

You are mine, O my child,
I am your Father,
and I love you with a perfect love.
Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name;
you are mine.

~ Gerard Markland, based on verses from Isaiah 43

let me listen

Written during the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2021, “let me listen” was created as a choral response to that pivotal moment, with poet and composer choosing to highlight the power of listening. Too often, we explain away others’ experiences instead of seeking to understand them. This work calls for silence from those who have long held the microphone, making space for voices that have been marginalized or silenced. It is a musical invitation to empathy, reflection, and change.


We come from different places,
You and I,
on different paths we journey;
let me walk beside you for a while –
let me listen.

So briefly do our lonely paths converge,
Yours and mine,
along this human journey;
what hollow loss to never hear your song –
let me listen.

Let me listen,
let me listen as you tell your story:
Your triumphs and your tears,
Your trials and your fears.
Your story never has been mine to tell –
so let me listen.

And if a silence is your choice to keep,
then I will keep it with you;
as long as we walk together,
You and I,
I will listen.

Too long you’ve waited, too long,
to share your journey, your song –
so let me listen.

~ Charles Anthony Silvestri

 

Hallelu Yah: Three Psalms of Praise

My inspiration for these settings came from seeing the common word “hallelujah” transliterated more clearly “hallelu Yah”, i.e., “praise YHWH”; these two words are an imperative (praise!) and the object of that praise (Yah, or Yahweh, the reverential Hebrew name of God). This opened up possibilities for both communicated meanings and speech accents. I was also inspired to add percussion to the choir and piano, partly from reading in 1st Chronicles that Asaph, the ancient Hebrew worship leader and author of many Psalms, played the cymbals, and partly because Psalm 150 lists as much or more percussion than any other instrument family. The last five Psalms all begin and end with this phrase, “Hallelu Yah,” and thus my settings of these three do the same. The first movement sets portions of Psalm 148 about creation voicing God’s praise, and weaves quotes of a related hymn tune throughout. Movement 2 turns its focus to people raising their voices alongside nature (Psalm 147), and hints at the Psalmist’s harp in its accompaniment. The third and final movement sets Psalm 150 as a dance in compound meter, with its well-known list of instruments joining in praise along with “everything that has breath”.

~ Dan Forrest

The Road Home

In the Spring of 2001 I received a commission from the Dale Warland Singers to write a short “folk” type choral arrangement. I had discovered a tune in a folk song book called “The Lone Wild Bird.” I fell in love with it, made a short recording and asked my good friend and colleague, Michael Dennis Browne, to write new words for this tune. The tune is taken from “The Southern Harmony Songbook” of 1835. It is pentatonic and that is part of its attraction. Pentatonic scales have been extant for centuries and are prevalent in almost all musical cultures throughout the world. They are universal. Michael crafted three verses and gave it the title “The Road Home.” He writes so eloquently about “returning” and “coming home” after being lost or wandering. Again, this is another universal theme and it has resonated well with choirs around the world…It is just more evidence that often the most powerful and beautiful message is often a simple one.

~ Stephen Paulus

Tell me, where is the road
I can call my own,
That I left, that I lost,
So long ago?
All these years I have wandered,
Oh, when will I know
There’s a way, there’s a road
That will lead me home?

After wind, after rain,
When the dark is done.
As I wake from a dream
In the gold of day,
Through the air there’s a calling
From far away,
There’s a voice I can hear
That will lead me home.

Rise up, follow me,
Come away, is the call,
With the love in your heart
As the only song;
There is no such beauty
As where you belong:
Rise up, follow me,
I will lead you home.

~ Michael Dennis Browne