May This Day Stretch Before You
This work is one of a series pieces I am composing, based on 16 "May This Day" poems by Lawrence Schug. I have set a handful of his poems for voice and piano. I felt the "May This Day" poems would be served best by a choir of voices.
Story Behind the Piece
Up to now, I had not written for a choir. Although a good deal of what works for solo voice also works for choirs, there are additional issues of voice blending, balance, and phasing that present additional challenges.
Fortunately, my composition mentor, Edie Hill, PhD, has written a great deal for voices, including choral ensembles. She was instrumental in making me aware of what constitutes good voice writing. Additionally, Edie pointed out examples of what isn’t an issue for an instrumentalist but may be quite awkward for a vocalist.
For me, this poem contrasts ‘being from doing’.
Perhaps you, too, grew up with practically-minded parents who felt one needed to be busy most all of the time doing work that resulted in something to show for one’s effort; the very opposite of “an old dog asleep in the cool grass in the shade of a hackberry tree.”
In this poem, you will find the contrast of flowers - “daisies and violets” - as opposed to vegetables for eating.
This sentiment of honoring what is beautiful, even if not practical, is so poignantly said in his line, “The tyranny of beauty overruling the practicality of what you’ve been told is good for you.” I tried my best to bring out my understanding of the sentiment of Lawrence Schug’s poem in this choral setting.
Musical Qualities
I used diverse musical elements to highlight the contrast found in the words. You will hear parts that are very relaxed and pastoral in quality.
In another section you will hear music that is much like military marching music.
And in another you will hear almost chaotic sections, with the singers singing their own lines, almost disregarding what others are singing. This contrasts with coming together in mostly unison singing.
Through those contrasts, the piece brings out my take on Lawrence Schug's poem.
The piece's difficulty level allows college, semi-pro, and professional choirs to program it.
The sample recording was done live by Recorded ‘live’ at Grace Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, by “The First Readings Project – J. David Moore,
conductor.” We used 12 singers, with three on each part.