Movement - (SATB Choir)

Program Notes:

The text for this piece is a poem entitled “The Ocean” by Dara Karcher. Throughout this piece, there are certain compositional techniques meant to help convey the feeling of the movement of waves. There are moments where the text is written as “Sh” and the traditional noteheads are replaced with an x. This should be sung with no pitch and the dynamics being paramount, with the swelling and falling representing waves coming and going on the shore. There is also a section where the sopranos are repeating a group of four notes, but each singer in their own time. This is also a representation of waves, as they each move independently, rising and falling.

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The Ocean

Through shade and sorrow

The ocean doth roll

It’s dark interior

Turns the life of movement

Daunting sound both

Whisper and call

Doth keep its waters moving

To see this place and

Live through it

One must lose his

Soul

A thought not spared

The Ocean takes it

And the movement

 Keeps its everlasting toll.