I am in Need of Music

  • Composer: Stephen Smith 
  • Publisher: contact the composer through the Elektra General Manager
  • Canadian Composition: Yes
  • Duration: 4:30

Program Notes:

This is a reworking of a piece Smith wrote originally for the Vancouver Men’s Chorus and string quartet. In its new form, there is a solo melody and the voices of the choir replace the string quartet in a sombre and inspiring work. Commissioned for Suzie LeBlanc and Stephen Smith with a generous gift from Elisabeth and David Finch

Conductor Notes:

SSAA and soprano solo (or mezzo) a cappella

The relatively low tessitura of this work would keep it out of reach of children’s choirs. The soprano has a major role to play. As always with Stephen Smith’s music, word stress and vocal lines are top notch.

References:

This lists any discs, concerts or collections where this piece is included.

Collections:

Concerts:

I am in need of music that would flow Over my fretful, feeling fingertips,
Over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips, With melody, deep, clear, and liquid-slow. Oh, for the healing swaying, old and low, Of some song sung to rest the tired dead, A song to fall like water on my head,

And over quivering limbs, dream flushed to glow!

There is a magic made by melody:
A spell of rest, and quiet breath, and cool Heart, that sinks through fading colors deep To the subaqueous stillness of the sea, And floats forever in a moon-green pool, Held in the arms of rhythm and of sleep.

Poem by Elizabeth Bishop