The Garden of Dreams

Program Notes:

The poem The Garden of Dreams was written by Bliss William Carman (1861 – 1929), one of Canada’s best known poets of the early 20th century. His body of work is substantial, often speaking in passionate terms about the subtle moments in his experiences of nature. When asked to write a new work for Elektra’s Tapestry International Celebration of Women’s Choirs, Vancouver composer Tim Corlis was drawn to this text as it expresses a joy in knowing a pervasive “living breath” – an unspoken part of life that is vital, dynamic, and full of joy.

Conductor Notes:

Composer Timothy Corlis wrote “The Garden of Dreams” for 4-part women’s choir and piano. The 4-minute work is at times delicate, at times powerful and dramatic. The tessitura and text require light singing in a fairly high range at times. To my ear, a heavy vocal production just won’t create the sound the composer is after. We thoroughly enjoyed learning this piece, and taking it as a massed choir piece to the Women in Song festival in Seattle in April 2010.

Composer / Arranger Notes:

“The poem The Garden of Dreams was written by Bliss William Carman (1861 – 1929), one of Canada’s best known poets in the early 20th century. His body of work is substantial, often speaking in passionate terms about the subtle moments in his experiences of nature. When asked to write a new work for Elektra’s Tapestry International Celebration of Women’s Choirs, I was drawn to this text as it expresses a joy in knowing a pervasive “living breath” – an unspoken part of life that is vital, dynamic, and full of joy.”

Text:

My heart is a garden of dreams Where you walk when day is done, Fair as the royal flowers, Calm as the lingering sun. Never a drouth comes there, Nor any frost that mars, Only the wind of love Under the early stars,– The living breath that moves Whispering to and fro, Like the voice of God in the dusk Of the garden long ago. Poem by Bliss Carman (1861-1929)