Dreams Symphony

SATB Chorus and Orchestra (2020)

Movements:

I. Introduction: The Half Light - (Poem by W.B. Yeats)

II. The Land of Dreams - (Poem adapted from William Blake)

III. A Dream Within a Dream - (Poem by Edgar Allan Poe)

IV. The Dream of the Lullaby - (Poem by W.B. Yeats)

V. Midnight: The Dream of Love - (Text by James Joyce from "Ulysses")

Instrumentation:

2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo)

2 Oboes

2 Clarinets in A

2 Bassoons (2nd doubling Contrabassoon)

4 Horns in F

3 Trumpets in C

2 Tenor Trombones

Bass Trombone

Tuba

Timpani

Percussion (2 players): Crotales, Glockenspiel, Chimes, Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbals, Triangle, Tamtam, Bass Drum

Harp

Chorus (SATB)

Strings

Duration ca. 29 minutes

Full Texts:

I. Introduction: The Half Light

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

Of night and light and the half light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

By William Butler Yeats [1865 – 1939]

II. The Land of Dreams

Awake, awake!

I had a dream

You were still alive

I walked with you

I saw you there

I could not get to the other side

I am here

In this land of fear

Like the mourning dove I mourn

When shall I return?

Better far,

Above the light of the morning star

Awake, awake!

Adapted from The Land of Dreams

By William Blake [1757 – 1827]

III. A Dream Within a Dream

Take this kiss upon the brow!

And, in parting from you now,

Thus much let me avow —

You are not wrong, who deem

That my days have been a dream;

Yet if hope has flown away

In a night, or in a day,

In a vision, or in none,

Is it therefore the less gone?

All that we see or seem

Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar

Of a surf-tormented shore,

And I hold within my hand

Grains of the golden sand —

How few! yet how they creep

Through my fingers to the deep,

While I weep — while I weep!

O God! Can I not grasp

Them with a tighter clasp?

O God! can I not save

One from the pitiless wave?

Is all that we see or seem

But a dream within a dream?

A Dream Within a Dream

By Edgar Allan Poe [1809 -1849]

IV. The Dream of the Lullaby

Lullaby

Sleep

Dream

The angels are stooping

Above your bed;

They weary of trooping

With the whimpering dead.

God's laughing in Heaven

To see you so good;

The Sailing Seven

are gay with His mood.

I sigh that kiss you,

For I must own

That I shall miss you

When you have grown.

Sleep

Dream

Lullaby

Adapted from A Cradle Song

By William Butler Yeats [1865 – 1939]

[Additions in italics]

V. Midnight: The Dream of Love

I love flowers I’d love to have the whole place swimming in roses heaven there’s nothing like the wild mountains then the sea the waves rushing the first person in the universe might as well try to stop the sun from rising the sun shines for you he said the day we were lying among the flowers yes it was leap year like now 16 years ago after that long kiss I near lost my breath yes he said I was a flower of the mountain yes so we are the sun shines for you today the sea and the sky like fire I was a Flower of the mountain when I put the rose in my hair how he kissed me and I asked him with my eyes to say yes I put my arms around him and drew him down to me yes and his heart was going like mad Yes.

Adapted from Ulysses Episode 18—Penelope

By James Joyce [1882 – 1941]

[Published 1922]

media

MEDIA:

A synthesized/digitized MP3 performance (computer generated by the music engraving software, not live musicians) is available on Youtube in two versions:

Version with scrolling piano/vocal score:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsAWPgDNCyE

Version with scrolling full score:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB2BQKiu0uY&t=17s

Please note in this computer rendered performance on Youtube, all vocals use the syllable "ah" and do not sing the actual words. Following along with the score online (see score options online below) is recommended to see what words are sung in a live performance setting.

VIEW THE PIANO/VOCAL SCORE ONLINE:

The complete piano/vocal score (for rehearsal only) may be viewed online at:

https://issuu.com/firstleafmusic/docs/field_20dreams_20symphony_20_vocal_20score__2011_2

VIEW THE FULL ORCHESTRAL SCORE ONLINE:

The complete full orchestral conductor's score may be viewed online at:

https://issuu.com/firstleafmusic/docs/field_dreams_symphony__full_score__10_26_2020

PRINTED SCORES FOR PURCHASE:

Printed piano/vocal scores for study and rehearsal are available for purchase: Vocal score: US $15.00

Full orchestral score (11 x 17) or study size score (8.5 x 14): special order on request

Please email for ordering information: firstleafmusic@gmail.com

PERFORMING MATERIALS:

Orchestral performing materials are available on rental/hire. Enquiries: firstleafmusic@gmail.com

This work may be performed individually or as part of the complete Choral Symphony Trilogy in the following suggested order: Dreams Symphony | Hymn Symphony | Shakespeare Symphony

media

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