SAB and Piano

The Light of Stars is an SAB accompanied work on an Advent theme.

Each section presents the melody in their respective sections. The melody first emerges in the

Soprano, it is then passed to the Alto, and eventually makes its way to the Baritone line. The work

ends in unison. The varying harmonic areas reflect the moods and imagery of the text: the shining,

guiding stars, the wandering and searching, and finally, the enlightened pathway leading us to

here.

Isabel Mackay, 1 875-1 928.

“Gratitude” Published: Toronto:W. Briggs, 1 904, in the public domain

For long the light of stars had been my guide through deepest night,

So placid did they shine, so high in heav’n, so safe, so bright.

Then tell a night when heav’n had lost its stars, or I my sight;

I wandered, missed the way—in all the world there was no light.

Then came the light of your most steadfast eyes, so true, so clear;

They were the stars which set anew my course and brought me here