Praise Wet Snow Falling Early
a choral work with music by Elizabeth Alexander and poem by Denise Levertov
Praise Wet Snow Falling Early Sheet Music, (3
pgs, 169KB, in PDF
format)
A deeply personal meditation on goodness and evil, transcendence and
hope. It was awarded Highest Honors in the Oregon Bach Festival's Waging
Peace Through Singing Symposium in 2002.
"Opening almost as an art song, this work took full advantage
of the chorus' wonderful pianissimo, merging with an exquisite piano
accompaniment. Within a surprisingly short span of time, Alexander's
work develops fully, touching on a range of emotions." - Eugene
Register-Guard
Composed especially for a small community choir, this song has moderate
vocal ranges, with bass and baritone often in unison. Its performances
have included community, church and professional choirs. "Praise
Wet Snow Falling Early " is published by Seafarer Press (SEA-015-00),
and is available from music dealers or directly from the publisher (http://www.elizabethalexander.com).
A complimentary perusal copy of this song may be requested from Seafarer
Press: Phone (800)278-2087, Fax (651) 330-0488, or Email ea@elizabethalexander.com.
"Praise Wet Snow Falling Early" poem by Denise
Levertov
Praise wet snow
falling early.
Praise the shadow
my neighbor's chimney casts on the tile
roof
even this gray October day that should, they say,
have been golden.
Praise
the invisible sun burning beyond
the white cold sky,
giving us
light and the chimney's shadow.
Praise
god or the gods, the unknown,
that which imagined us, which stays
our hand,
our murderous hand,
and gives us
still,
in the shadow of death,
our daily life,
and the dream still
of goodwill, of peace on earth.
Praise
flow and change, night and
the pulse of day.
(Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing
Corporation.)
