About the piece
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune – without words,
And never stops at all…”
Inspired by 16th century madrigals, this setting of Emily Dickinson’s poem of the same name uses rich word painting and a traditional structure, but with more modern harmonic language. Originally intended for a trio of soloists, an SATB version more appropriate to choral performance was created at the request of the Festival Singers of Atlanta.
Listen
performed by AMA vocal trio, Tenby, Wales
Get the Sheet Music
Instrumentation
SATB Chorus; SAB Chorus
Duration
2 minutes 30 seconds
year written
SATB (2019); SAB (2004)
Sheet Music Format
Digital PDF, 8.5 x 11"
More Works for Choral, SAB, SATB
Choral
the truth you cannot see
SATB chorus
3 minutes
The text for the truth you cannot see is taken from the end of Alfred Bester's novel The Demolished Man. It offers a measure of hope, and a plea for patience and understanding. The complex harmonies serve to underscore how difficult these things are to achieve.