SATB a cappella
Text:John Donne
Duration: 4 min
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
Commissioned by the University of British Columbia.
This beautiful text by Metaphysical poet John Donne brings a poignant message that as long as you keep what is most loved in your heart, you are never truly parted. This lovely idea is held together by a common melody, sung by the sopranos, which transforms through various key changes, symbolizing life’s always changing pulse.
Sweetest love, I do not go,
For weariness of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter love for me;
But since that I
Must die at last, ’tis best
To use myself in jest
Thus by feign’d deaths to die.
Let not thy divining heart
Forethink me any ill;
Destiny may take thy part,
And may thy fears fulfil;
But think that we
Are but turn’d aside to sleep;
They who one another keep
Alive, ne’er parted be.
Themes: secular, love, ubc, parting, journey, longing, life,
ERRORS IN THE SCORE:
measure 41, soprano should be “P decrescendo” The soprano stays soft while the ATB have melodic ideas underneath
Measure 35, piano reduction, alto note is written as a B, it should be a G# to match the alto voice.
Dr. Matthew Emery 