Over the North Jetty (sampled) |
"Over the North Jetty" is a poem that speaks of the empathic connection that exists between most living organisms - in this case between a human and a flock of geese. I split the choir into two SATB groups: the geese and the rest of the choir for this work. At times the geese sing on their own, at times only the choir, and, often, both groups sing together. There is no dialogue: only descriptive words that illustrate the action of the geese and the empathic human observer wondering at the mystery of their long flight.
More is needed than sound judgement to heal the gap between our modern lifestyles and our connection to our Earth. What is missing is relationship - finding the empathic connection with the many lifeforms surrounding us. This requires meditation, deep listening and broad swaths of time with the intention to truly see, hear and feel while we are out in wilderness.
In 2008, Dave Glerum, our area's best known classical music radio personality before WMFE downsized, mentioned a local performance of Francis Poulenc's Gloria, one of my favorite works, by the Orlando Chorale. Having never heard this group, I decided to attend. The concert occurred in the large sanctuary of the downtown First United Methodist Church in Orlando. They sounded absolutely wonderful - having the polish and purity of sound I've always associated with the better commercial recordings. It was one of the best performances, overall, that I had experienced in Orlando. The organization was also open to performing new works - one of which was featured that day. After the concert, I approached the conductor Gregory Ruffer, who is also the organization's Music Director and Founder, to see if he would be open to my composing them a new work. He was interested enough to suggest that I write something with a theme of flying (without commission).
After my experience with the Bach Festival in October 2007, and my taking on more responsibility with a promotion at Full Sail University in the following spring, I had composed very little for nearly a year. When the winter vacation of 2008 allowed me to slow down, I composed "Over the Jetty". It felt good to return to my daily composing discipline.
I chose to set a William Stafford poem from The Way It Is (Greywolf Press) about flying called "Over the North Jetty". Stafford poems circumscribe time and space with a heightened sensitivity about the out-of-doors that speaks deeply to me. He finds a way to sing about the the details of the mundane that elevates our lives and our interconnectedness to the Earth. Not a drop of delusion exists in his poems. They are the products of a wise observer with a contrite heart.
Over the North Jetty
Geese and brant, their wingbeat
steady - it's a long flight, Alaska-
bank their approach and then curve
upwind for landing. They live where storms
are so usual they are almost fair weather.
And we lean in that permanent gale,
watching those cold flocks depend on their wings
as they veer out of the north. In the last flight
one laggard pulls farther downwind
and peels off to disappear alone in the storm.
If you follow an individual away like that
a part of your life is lost forever,
beating somewhere in darkness, and belonging
only to storms that haunt around the world
an that risky path just over the wave.
The geese should number less than 50% of the total chorus, and perhaps as low as 33%. The tricky part of being a goose is the ability to tap one hand on their thigh and sing at the same time.
