PASTORALE
He sent me his poem “Shadows”, a meditation on
Psalm 23, with his observation that the short isolated
phrases seemed suited for my way of doing things. My
first idea was to have choral phrases between silences,
but it occurred to me to use the “Pastorale Symphony”
one of the two instrumental sections from Handel’s
“Messiah” as the piano accompaniment for my piece.
I used this (and Richard’s poem) as the framework for
my setting, rather the way Matisse used the pre-existing
framework in Union Church in Pocantico Hills for his
Rose Window (shown below).
Shadows.
Shadows!
What is in them?
Dare we enter?
Are we safe?
Shepherd.
Shepherd!
You are with us.
You have power
for our sake.
We walk in the shadows
and have no fear.
Shepherd, you are near.
Enemies.
Enemies!
Where is shelter?
Are there walls,
to make us safe?
Table.
Table!
Spread before us.
Without walls,
a banquet place!
We feast in the open
with brimming cup.
God, you fill it up.
performed by
The Gregg Smith Singers
Gregg Smith, conductor
A few years ago I was blessed
to make the acquaintance of
Richard Leach, who writes
“hymn-poems” (poems on
religious subjects which can
be sung to hymn tunes). He
draws remarkable spiritual
insights in his work, and
I have since set several of
his poems to music.
“Shadows” poem by Richard Leach ©1995
music by William Vollinger ©2005
API Choral AP-10012
poem by Richard Leach
Alliance Publications Inc.
9171 Spring Road
Fish Creek WI 54212-9619
(920) 868-3100
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