Life

Description

Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto 1, Alto 2, Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Bass 1, Bass 2 — Life has loveliness to sell,All beautiful and splendid things,Blue waves whitened on a cliff,Soaring fire that sways and sings,And children's faces looking upHolding wonder like a cup. Life has loveliness to sell,Music like a curve of gold,Scent of pine trees in the rain,Eyes that love you, arms that hold,And for your spirit's still delight,Holy thoughts that star the night. Spend all you have for loveliness,Buy it and never count the cost;For one white singing hour of peaceCount many a year of strife well lost,And for a breath of ecstacyGive all you have been, or could be.xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0 xa0—“Barter” from Love Songs (1918) by Sara Teasdalexa0Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) was an American poet whose short, personal lyrics are noted for their classical simplicity and quiet intensity. Teasdale was born in St. Louis, Missouri and traveled to Chicago as a young woman, where she grew acquainted with Harriet Monroe and the literary circle around Poetry. Teasdale wrote seven books of poetry in her lifetime and received public admiration for her well-crafted lyrical poetry which centered on a woman’s changing perspectives of beauty, love, life, and death.Jacob Narverud (b. 1986) is an American composer, arranger, and conductor. A native Kansan, Jacob is the Founder/Artistic Director of the Tallgrass Chamber Choir, a professional ensemble of musicians from across the Great Plains. Dr. Narverud is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and conferences as well as an active guest conductor/clinician for choral festivals and all-state choirs across the United States. Many of his compositions are publisher best sellers and are performed worldwide by choirs of all levels.Website: jnarverud.comxa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0 YouTube & Spotify: jacobnarverud The joyful, cascading introduction begins from a unison note, setting the tone for Narverud's canonic-like setting of the famous Teasdale poem Life has loveliness to sell. Like a heartbeat, the rhythmic call and response between treble and tenor-bass is steady, wondrous and full of musical interest, in true Narverud style. A must-sing for SATB ensembles of all sizes!

Preview Pages