Choral Piece of the Day, Installment 41, Seascapes for SATB Chorus and Low Flutes (Bass and Alto, 1 or 2 players): My dear colleague, the renowned low flutes player Peter Sheridan, lost his mother, Pauline Sheridan, in 2014. One of my best friends, the very talented artist Malcolm Tuffnell, lost his mother, Jacqueline Tuffnell, in 2010. One night, Malcolm posted some of his late mother's poetry on a social networking site. I was so moved by the ones I saw that I immediately asked to see more of them. I narrowed down my choices to eight sea-themed poems that became the basis for Seascapes. This score was completed in 2015 and is dedicated to the memory of these two inspirational and much beloved mothers.
The ECS Publishing Group Catalog Numbers for the flute/choral score and flute part are 7.0666 and 7.0667, respectively. Follow the next URL to see a partial PDF sample of the flute/choral score, or to purchase performance copies.
Follow the next URL to hear a very fine demo track recorded by The Singers, Matthew Culloton, conductor, Barb Leibundguth, alto flute, Trudy Anderson, bass flute.
Follow the next URL to see and hear my YouTube music video which incorporates the above track.
To the best of my knowledge, the world premiere performance of Seascapes was given by Albany Pro Musica, José Daniel Flores-Caraballo, music director, and low flutes player, Norm Thibodeau, on March 3, 2024, at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, New York.
TEXT
curling, curling, the waves never end what bottomless thoughts they provoke
the radiance of a white seagull like a burst of sunshine after heavy fog
the seabirds skate along the shore such delightful patterns gone too soon
the sailboats glide out in formation across the blue green sea
I hold my breath in wonder at the spectacle before me
so chaste in white—yet strong as a knight
their sails are a shield
ready to battle the wind which will never yield
a stranger on the shore whose life was closed ’til you opened the door
I sit and watch the pounding sea the sun and wind are ambrosia to me a horse and rider go cantering by.
and I recall a memory of you and I.
when I think of you, I dream of many tomorrows
for the love we’ve shared, has banished all my sorrows.
my heart is filled with your love as the cup is filled with rare wine
and I know that I am yours, dear, and pray, my sweet, that you are mine.
I hear sounds I see people pass by and cars flashing past the window
I am alone
but not entirely alone
for in my mind I see
wave up on wave of memories
crowding the shore of my reality
curling, curling, the waves never end what bottomless thoughts they provoke
the islands and the sea are compatible at sunset
all mauve and turquoise soothing the eye
and the mountains are garbed in deep purple
where does one look before the fading light?
Words: © Copyright by the Estate of Jacqueline Tuffnell.
All rights reserved.
Used by permission of Malcolm Tuffnell.
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