Andrea with poet Susan Windle at the premiere of Into the Blue
Scored for: SATB, flute, vibraphone, piano
Also available for SATB, flute and piano and SATB and piano. Text:Susan Windle Language: English Duration: 7 min. Premiere: June 6, 2009, The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, Wilmington, DE Commissioned by: The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware Published by: Self-published, Angelfire Press
Contact Andrea Clearfield for score and parts:
“The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware commissioned both the poem and the music of Into the Blue for its 10th anniversary concert. Andrea masterfully set Susan Windle’s poem. The singers’ enjoyed Andrea’s entire creative process, from conception, to sketch, and finally to manuscript. Her visits with the ensemble were warm and inviting, and she always left the singers feeling empowered in their task. The music is complex and rewarding without being abjectly difficult, and it is a work that choirs at all levels can perform with pride and strength.”
–Stephen Caldwell, Artistic Director, The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware
“This was a great concert and a wonderful piece to sing — I will NEVER forget “into the blue”"
–Mary Post, member of The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware
PROGRAM NOTE
Into the Blue was commissioned by The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware in celebration of their 10 Year Anniversary. This uplifting work was inspired by the glorious and colorful text written by Philadelphia poet Susan Windle, commissioned for this occasion by the Chorale. The work was premiered at the Baby Grand Theater in the Wilmington Grand Opera Theater on June 6, 2009.
LISTEN
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
TEXT
Into the Blue poster
Into the Blue:
A Blessing From the Rainbow Chorale
May you be met
at the door and greeted
by the kindest of breezes,
the kind that rises
from the earth
through the throats
of the ones who breathe
Alleluia.
May you be swept up
in the love of a song,
lean and laugh
like some lily in the wind—
there’s nothing to catch us
but air,
and our stalks
strong enough to
split the earth
and reach
for the summer sun.
May you seek the green and
receive what you need:
from the light,
through the breath
that lifts us up, out of
the tangles of our roots
and around
even the most oppressive
rock.
In good, kind company
may you lengthen, swell
soften, spread,
send the colors of your voice,
every russet, carnelian,
deep yellow
stripe of your flame
into the blue
Alleluia
as a chorus of future lilies
flourishes through you
day after day
week after week
June after June
giving up, giving in, giving out:
trumpeting
the exquisite, excruciating
pleasure of
growing here.
–Susan Windle
Commissioned by the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware to celebrate its tenth anniversary season.
Into the Blue
Andrea with poet Susan Windle at the premiere of Into the Blue
Scored for: SATB, flute, vibraphone, piano
Also available for SATB, flute and piano and SATB and piano.
Text: Susan Windle
Language: English
Duration: 7 min.
Premiere: June 6, 2009, The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, Wilmington, DE
Commissioned by: The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware
Published by: Self-published, Angelfire Press
Contact Andrea Clearfield for score and parts:
See preview score pages: INTO THE BLUE FULL SCORE EXCERPT (PDF)
QUOTES
Andrea with members of the Rainbow Chorale
“The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware commissioned both the poem and the music of Into the Blue for its 10th anniversary concert. Andrea masterfully set Susan Windle’s poem. The singers’ enjoyed Andrea’s entire creative process, from conception, to sketch, and finally to manuscript. Her visits with the ensemble were warm and inviting, and she always left the singers feeling empowered in their task. The music is complex and rewarding without being abjectly difficult, and it is a work that choirs at all levels can perform with pride and strength.”
–Stephen Caldwell, Artistic Director, The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware
“This was a great concert and a wonderful piece to sing — I will NEVER forget “into the blue”"
–Mary Post, member of The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware
PROGRAM NOTE
Into the Blue was commissioned by The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware in celebration of their 10 Year Anniversary. This uplifting work was inspired by the glorious and colorful text written by Philadelphia poet Susan Windle, commissioned for this occasion by the Chorale. The work was premiered at the Baby Grand Theater in the Wilmington Grand Opera Theater on June 6, 2009.
LISTEN
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
TEXT
Into the Blue poster
Into the Blue:
A Blessing From the Rainbow Chorale
May you be met
at the door and greeted
by the kindest of breezes,
the kind that rises
from the earth
through the throats
of the ones who breathe
Alleluia.
May you be swept up
in the love of a song,
lean and laugh
like some lily in the wind—
there’s nothing to catch us
but air,
and our stalks
strong enough to
split the earth
and reach
for the summer sun.
May you seek the green and
receive what you need:
from the light,
through the breath
that lifts us up, out of
the tangles of our roots
and around
even the most oppressive
rock.
In good, kind company
may you lengthen, swell
soften, spread,
send the colors of your voice,
every russet, carnelian,
deep yellow
stripe of your flame
into the blue
Alleluia
as a chorus of future lilies
flourishes through you
day after day
week after week
June after June
giving up, giving in, giving out:
trumpeting
the exquisite, excruciating
pleasure of
growing here.
–Susan Windle
Commissioned by the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware to celebrate its tenth anniversary season.