Everyone Sang
Poet/Lyricist:
Siegfried Sassoon
Although the text was written in honor of Armistice Day and depicts the unbridled joy at the end of the First World War, the final line: "the singing will never be done" hints at the true work that is yet to come. In this new setting, I have chosen to repeat this last line many times, even encouraging the audience to join in the song, and the long road to peace.
Commissioned by:
Calliope Women's Chorus in celebration of their 40th Anniversary
Premiere:
Calliope Women's Chorus, GALA National Convention, Denver, Colorado 2016
| Item | Voicing | Media | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LK034-03 | SSA a cappella |
|
$2.25 | |
| LKD034-03digital download | SSA a cappella | $2.00 | ||
| LK034-04 | SATB a cappella | $2.50 | ||
| LK034-04Ddigital download | SATB a cappella | $2.00 |
Text:
Everyone Sang (1918)
Ev'ryone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark-green fields;
On, on, and out of sight.
Ev'ryone's voice was suddenly lifted;
And beauty came like the setting sun:
My heart was shaken with tears; and horror
Drifted away...O, but Ev'ryone
Was a bird; and the song was wordless;
The singing will never be done.