"The worm thinks it strange and foolish
that we do not eat our books."
- Rabindranath Tagore
| About |
Rabindranath Tagore’s “Fireflies” is a collection of quirky, humorous, wise, and profound aphorisms offering powerful poetic punches. Each mini-poem expresses a world of its own, so I assembled five of these morsels to create a multi-movement musical work illuminating thoughts on life, love, joy, empathy, and beauty. The Iowa All-State Choir is one of the largest in the country, yet is capable of such detailed singing. In creating this work, I wanted to allow the ensemble to find the nuance and uniqueness of character in each movement. Because choral music serves as an important educational tool in the classroom,“Fireflies” can also function as a collection of etudes to develop choral techniques, study compositional devices, inspire in-depth conversations about poetic meaning, and embody diverse emotional landscapes. |
| Instrumentation |
SATB with divisi, unaccompanied |
| Duration | 5:30 |
| Year Completed | 2020 |
| Commissioner |
Iowa Choral Directors Association for the 75th Anniversary All-State Music Festival. PREMIERE
November 20, 2021 at the 75th Annual Iowa All-State Music Festival - Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa. Dr. Edith Copley, conductor.
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| Text |
I. Living Light II. The Day Will Break III. The Worm IV. Love Is An Endless Mystery V. Fireflies |
| Errata | None |
| Donations |
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| More Info | None |