Keith Lay, Composer - If Ye Would Hear

Finding a Christmas song is not easy for me! I originally though of setting "Welcome Christmas" carol from "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", and I might do so someday. That song still makes me believe in the good of all people just as it did when it first aired in 1966 and I was 8 years old. Remember how all the town held hands in a circle around the bare tree and sang their hearts out? I'm still waiting to find that community! I put that idea away for later because the songwriter, Albert Hague, had passed away and getting permission from the estate might take too long. This needs to be completed in a few weeks for the Orlando Chorale and I've got too much schoolwork every night after work to wait until last minute.

So, I needed to either 1) set something in the Public Domain like an old carol, 2) find a poem from a living poet from whom I could receive permission, or 3) write the poem myself and set it. I tried all three. I still might yet receive a poem from my friend William Carr or my brother Kevin. But, I can't wait! I tried setting three carols from the trusty Oxford Book of Carols - and I found one that wants set: "If Ye Would Hear", a Dutch carol melody from 1539 and words from the 19th century English poet Dora Greenwell. The melody is joyful and the lyrics are less about the nativity myth and more about the roles of love and generosity that nourish the real meaning of the day.

Here's a bit of the first sketch from this morning - now just a first harmonization. The piano part will really put life into this song - and I'll keep it singable.