SSA (with divisi) and piano, 4 minutes
At the heart of our stillness
Kathleen Allan 2016
Commissioned by the 2016 Women’s Choir Commission Consortium of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
Iris S. Levine, National Repertoire & Standards Chair for Women’s Choirs
Stations of Angels
by Joy Kogawa (b. 1935)
Within the universe of flame in the time between watching and waiting are the fire creatures holy and unholy hungry for those many coloured parts of us which have no names.
Blow out the candle, friends quickly, and let us close our eyes while the devouring is at hand.
At the heart of our stillness, in peaceable flames we shall hear
shall we not hear our mothers singing.
About the poet:
Joy Kogawa was born in Vancouver in 1935. She has two children and four grandchildren. With other Japanese Canadians on the West Coast, she and her family were interned in the B.C. mountains and scattered across Canada during the enactment of the government’s Dispersal Policy after World War II. Her best known work is a novel, Obasan, published in 1981. She has published several books of poetry and her latest book is a memoir, Gently to Nagasaki published in 2016 by Caitlin. Her works have been put to music by several composers including Dan Locklair, Ramona Luengen, Larysa Kuzmenko, Leslie Uyeda, David R. Scott and others. She is a recipient of the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia, the Order of the Rising Sun and numerous honourary doctorates.
At the heart of our stillness
Kathleen Allan (b. 1989) "Stations of
Soprano 1
With
Soprano 2
With
With
in - the u ni - verse - of flame in the time be tween - watch ing - and wait ing - are the
With p in - the u ni - verse - of flame in the time be tween - watch ing - and wait ing - are the
With p in - the u ni - verse - of flame in the time be tween - watch ing - and wait ing - are the
hun
hun gr y - for those man y - co loured - parts
hun gr y - for those man y - co loured - parts
of us
wait ing - are the fire crea tures, - the
wait ing - are the fire crea tures, - the
wait ing - are the fire crea tures, - the
and
hand, quick l y, - and let us close our eyes p
while
while f close our eyes, quick l y, - and let us close p our eyes molto while f
moth ers - sing ing, - our pp moth ers - sing ing, - our moth ers - sing ing. -
moth ers - sing ing, - our pp moth ers - sing ing, - our moth ers - sing ing.moth ers - sing ing, -
2016 ACDA Women’s Commission Consortium Members
Aria Women's Choir — Sean Boulware, Conductor
Bella Voce Women's Ensemble — Jennifer Tibben, Conductor
Bonneville HS Bel Cantos — Steve Dresen, Conductor
California State University, Fullerton, Women's Choir — Robert Istad, Conductor
Cantala (Lawrence University Women's Choir) — Phillip A. Swan, Conductor
Canzona Women's Ensemble — Cricket Handler & Jill Anderson, Conductor
Carillon Women's Chorale — Karen S. Nevins, Artistic Director
Carthage Women's Ensemble — Peter Dennee, Director
Central Bucks West Women’s Choir — Joseph Ohrt, Conductor
Clovis East High School Women's Chorale — Daniel Bishop, Conductor
Elektra Women’s Choir — Morna Edmundson, Artistic Director
Flower Mound High School Women’s Chorale, Flower Mound, TX — Mark Rohwer, Conductor
Girls' 21 from Cherry Creek High School — Adam Cave, Conductor
Holton—Arms School — Mary Jane Pagenstecher, Director
Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble at Augustana College — Michael Zemek, Conductor
Ladies of Lee (Lee University) — Jonathan Rodgers, Conductor
Luther College Aurora — Jennaya Robison, Conductor
Manitou Singers, St. Olaf College — Therees Hibbard, Conductor
Mira Costa High School Advanced Women's Ensemble — Michael Hayden, Conductor
Mirinesse Women's Choir — Rebecca Rottsolk, Conductor
Mountain View High School — Jason Neumann, Conductor
Nazareth Academy Chorale — Katherine Chmelko, Conductor
Peninsula Women's Chorus — Martin Benvenuto, Artistic Director
Saint Mary’s College Women’s Choir — Nancy Menk, Conductor
Santa Monica High School Chamber Singers — Jeffe Huls, Conductor
Sistrum, Lansing Women's Chorus — Meredith Bowen, Conductor
The Texas State Women's Choir — Lynn Brinckmeyer, Conductor
The Women of the Bob Cole Chamber Choir — Jonathan Talberg, Conductor
University of Mississippi Women’s Glee Club — Debra Spurgeon, Conductor
University of Southern California Oriana Women's Choir — Jo-Michael Scheibe, Department Chair
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire Women's Concert Chorale — Frank A. Watkins, Conductor
Voca Lyrica — Ginny Kerwin, Conductor
Vassar College Women's Chorus — Christine Howlett, Conductor
Vox Femina Los Angeles — Iris S. Levine, Artistic Director
West Ottawa High School Select Women's Ensemble — Pam Pierson, Conductor
Wheaton College Women's Chorale — Mary Hopper, Conductor
WomanSong (West Virginia) — Emily Capece, Conductor
WomenSing — Martin Benvenuto, Artistic Director
Xavier University Women's Chorus — Robyn Lana, Conductor
Also available for treble choir from Kathleen Allan
Early Spring
An arrangement of the haunting Newfoundland folksong for women’s or advanced girls’ voices. Published by Cypress Choral Music (CP 1142).
Joy
An upbeat and uplifting setting of Sara Teasdale’s poem by the same name. Soaring vocal lines and rhythmic piano accompaniment. Commissioned by Elektra Women’s Choir. Published by Cypress Choral Music (CP 1403).
Maid on the Shore
“A fabulous, energetic arrangement” for women’s choir and percussion. Commissioned by Lady Cove Women’s Choir. Published by Cypress Choral Music (CP 1404).
The Sailor’s Question
A folksong-style original composition for three-part treble choir. Published by Alliance Music Publications, Inc. (AMP 0749).
Sainte Cécile
Drawing from several texts in French and English about music’s patron saint, this moderately difficult treble piece was commissioned by the English Montreal School Board Chorale and suits young singers or adult women. Available from MusicSpoke.
the close and holy darkness
Using the last lines of Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” this reflective piece depicts a quiet, dimly lit Christmas Eve from a child’s perspective. Text from the O Magnum Mysterium is woven in alongside distant sounds of Christmas bells. Available from MusicSpoke.
Ring out, ye bells!
A short jubilant piece perfect as a concert opener or impressive closer to a Christmas concert. Available from MusicSpoke.
For more about the composer and a full list of works, please visit kathleenallan.com.