Songs of love and longing

poems by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
set to music by Sheena Phillips

for unaccompanied SATB chorus. Total performance time approx 5m 00s.

A cycle of five exquisite poems:

The moon should exude pure longing. The phrases are written to mimic the advance and retreat of waves and rubato can be used effectively.

It's like the light should sound almost as if it is being thought out for the first time - with little moments of hesitation followed by rushes of expression as the right words are found. Just as Emily Dickinson punctuated her poems with many hyphens, you can keep the listener waiting for each different comparison. The last stanza is more final in mood as well as position.

Winter afternoons is a depiction of the melancholy of winter afternoons. The rise and fall of the soprano line introduces light and shade, and this can be echoed by dynamic rises and falls in the lower parts. But the piece as a whole is not dramatic and should have rather a monotonic and tolling quality.

"I went to Heaven - 'twas a small Town - lit - with a Ruby ..." Beauty and stillness are depicted in this achingly sad setting.

Wild nights expresses the sheer passion and feeling of Emily Dickinson's poem. No hesitation!

Winter afternoons and Wild nights can be heard on the album bottled at source (RUBEECD003) by Rudsambee company of singers.

Price

You can buy any of the pieces individually - follow the links above - or you can buy them as a set. The price of the set 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 all five songs as often as you wish. Copies of the songs must not be given, lent, hired or sold to any other group.

Companion pieces