The Everlasting Voices

Description

Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto 1, Alto 2, Cello, Piano — O sweet everlasting Voices, be still;Go to the guards of the heavenly foldAnd bid them wander obeying your will,Flame under flame, till Time be no more;Have you not heard that our hearts are old,That you call in birds, in wind on the hill,In shaken boughs, in tide on the shore?O sweet everlasting Voices, be still.This SSAA choral work by Jimmy Baas wascomissioned by the Lumberton HS Varsity Treble Choir.The opening and closing lines of the poem, “O sweeteverlasting voices, be still” provide the perfect bookendsfor two larger sections of the poem. These two sectionsare equally divided into verses. The opening line is usedonce again as a transition between the verses.The previously mentioned lines, “O sweet everlastingvoices,” are overlapped as different layers of voices enterand sustain. A fifth and sixth voice, the cello and pianoaccompaniment take part in these layers as well.The words “be still” are very much a part of the moodeach time as the everlasting voices become quietand still.The two verses feature different voices within the SSAAchoir. Verse 1, the sopranos, and verse 2 the altos. Thereare many moments in this piece to explore the full range andcolor of the SSAA choir. The piano and cello play an importantpart throughout, making this piece an excellent choice for anyfestival women’s chorus. The Everlasting Voices is the perfect blend of textural variety and harmonic interest for the advanced treble ensemble. Employing a powerful text, Baas' vocal layering coupled with piano and optional cello make this compelling piece a programming must!

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