The Lake Isle of Innisfree

Program Notes:

A deliciously languid yet eloquent and noble setting of W. B. Yeats’ beautiful poem.

Conductor Notes:

Originally composed for Eileen Baldwin and her St. Marys Children’s Choir, Eleanor Daley’s setting of a poem by Irish poet William Butler Yeats is one of Elektra’s favorite pieces of music. The poet, living in a city, is longing to live alone in a peaceful lakeside cabin, listening to the buzz of bees in his well-tended garden and the lapping of the lake on the shore, and admiring the glimmer of the lake at midnight and a purple glow at noon.

Daley’s music, opening in unison, and using choral harmony sparingly (up to 3 parts) throughout, is nevertheless full of integrity and opportunity to find meaning and expression in each phrase. Pay close attention to the role of the piano, as there are many gems here as well that mirror the words and will guide you in questions of balance between choir and accompaniment.

Do not be fooled into thinking that The Lake Isle of Innisfree , in its simplicity, is “too easy” for your choir. Your choir and audience will thank you for this gift of exquisite beauty.

Composer / Arranger Notes:

The Lake Isle of Innisfree was commissioned in 2000 by St. Marys Children’s Choir, St. Marys, Ontario, Eileen Baldwin, conductor, for the occasion of their 30th anniversary, June 2001.

Text:

(William Butler Yeats)

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree. And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee, And live alone, in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight ‘s all aglimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s wings. I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core.