canasg choral music publishing

SG1018

When day is done

Poem by Iain Crichton Smith (1928-1998)
Set to music by Michael Buck

SATB performance time approx 2m 00s

Composer's note

This is a setting of a beautiful poem by Iain Crichton Smith. I wrote the music shortly after he died and with him very much in mind. As it rises and falls in dynamic volume and melodic line, the piece should suggest the gentle rocking of an old chair. The sense of the words is paramount, and it should be sung as slowly as possible, with plenty of space between phrases.

Music

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Hear a MIDI file of the song

Words

When day is done

Sorrow remembers us when day is done.
It sits in its old chair gently rocking
and singing tenderly in the evening.
It welcomes us home again after the day.
It is so old in its black silken dress,
its stick beside it carved with legends.
It tells its stories over and over again.
After a while we have to stop listening.

Iain Crichton Smith

Thanks to Carcanet Press Limited for permission to use this poem. Anyone wishing to record or perform the music setting should also contact Carcanet for permission.

Price

The price of this piece depends on the number of singers in your group. This is a single payment for a licence to make as many copies as you need for your group to rehearse and perform the song as often as you wish. Copies of the song must not be given, lent or sold to any other group.

Number of singers in your group
up to 12 singers	13 to 24 singers	25 singers or more
Ł5 (approx US$8.00)	Ł10 (approx US$16)	Ł15 (approx US$24)
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Companion pieces

Browse the Scots and Gaelic section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

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When day is done

Composer's note

Music

Words

Price

Companion pieces

Canasg Music