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Stars above, earth below
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Description
Written for the BBC Singers in 2019, Stars above, earth below is a hopeful and reflective setting of the poem Leaves by Sara Teasdale (1884–1933). The piece begins with celestial, descending lines across the vocal parts to represent each falling leaf as, 'one by one, like leaves from a tree, all my faiths have forsaken me.' The piece then moves from reflection to revelation as the music opens out, looking up to the stars and down to the earth, observing the beauty of the natural world around us. The work is introspective, lamenting over the loss of the 'leaves I knew', but it ultimately turns into understated promise as the 'little leaves that die, have left me room to see the sky' depicting transformation through loss, from one season to the next. The piece returns to the celestial, ethereal falling lines at its conclusion, expressing appreciation for the beauty of the stars above, earth below.
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More from this series
The Boosey & Hawkes Contemporary Choral Series combines music from well-established figures such as James MacMillan, Karl Jenkins, and Einojuhani Rautavaara and the finest emerging choral composers of our time including Thomas Hewitt Jones, Joseph Phibbs, Will Todd and Gareth Treseder.
Diverse in terms of theme and mood, with works suitable for a variety of festive and commemorative occasions, both sacred and secular, this series provides an exciting collection of contemporary works for choirs of all types, voicings and abilities.
Spanning many different styles including the jazz-influenced world of Will Todd’s Jazz Carols and Iain Farrington’s The Blues Service, the tranquil beauty of James MacMillan’s Ave Maris Stella, and the energetic jubilation of Gareth Treseder’s Blessed be that Maid Marie, the series provides a wealth of new music, perfect for choirs looking to expand their horizons and explore new repertoire.
