The Winter is Past

for SATB choir (2018)
Duration: 5:30'

This piece is a setting of a Robert Burns’ poem. The piece explores multiple tonalities, expanding on themes of shifting seasons, and laments the separation of two people in love. There is a bittersweet quality to be found in the happy moments; and likewise, hope in the hopeless ones. There is juxtaposition found at measure 52 between the text "parted from me" and the actual contrary motion that brings the voices together.

The Winter it is Past and the summer comes at last,
And the small birds they sing on ev'ry tree;
Now ev'ry thing is glad, while I am very sad,
Since my true love is parted from me.

The rose upon the brier, by the waters running clear,
May have charms for the linnet or the bee;
Their little loves are blest, and their little hearts at rest,
But my true love is parted from me.

My love is like the sun, that in the sky doth run,
Forever so constant and true;
But his is like the moon that wanders up and doon,
And ev'ry month it is new.

Though the piece moves through several keys, it arrives in the key of F major, as it began, despite the text describing a newfound love. This is intended to imply that though the winter is over, nature is cyclic and eventually it must come to pass again.

This piece was presented on December 5th, 2021, at St. Anne's Anglican Church, as part of Concreamus Chamber Choir's concert "Unseen Joy".

Scores available upon request.

THE WINTER IS PAST

for SATB choir (2018) Duration: 5:30'

Though the piece moves through several keys, it arrives in the key of F major, as it began, despite the text describing a newfound love. This is intended to imply that though the winter is over, nature is cyclic and eventually it must come to pass again.

for SATB choir (2018)
Duration: 5:30'