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Programme Note

This short (3’30”) setting of a poem by e.e.cummings was written in 2003 in honour of the eminent choral director and organist Philip Brunelle, and first performed in April 2004 during Philip’s 35th season as musical director of Plymouth Church Choir in Minneapolis. This a cappella choral anthem includes a prominent solo soprano part (written for another longtime colleague, Maria Jette) and a simpler background role for two solo altos whose music helps to bring the solo line and the choral harmony together.

I thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(I who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any - lifted from the no
of all nothing - human merely being
doubt unimaginable You ?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)


e.e.cummings