Choral alto 1, alto 2,
solo Voices, soprano 1,
soprano 2
SKU:
CF.CM9768
Composed by
Z. Randall Stroope.
Duration 3 minutes, 19
seconds. Carl Fischer
Music #CM9768. Published
by Carl Fischer Music
(CF.CM9768).
ISBN
9781491160343. UPC:
680160923298. Key: G
major.
English.
About the
WorkThe text of this work
is most often attributed
to Ralph Waldo Emerson,
although it doesn't
mirror his style, and no
research credits an
essay, book or letter
with its source. Other
individuals are
occasionally suggested as
possible authors, but
equally unsubstantiated.
Even whether the textis a
poem or a quote seems
unclear. But there is one
thing that is without
question: that this
beloved text has inspired
countless people and
contributed toward a view
of the world through eyes
of hope, resilience,
courage, beauty, and joy.
Music for this text
flowed more easily than
about any text I have
ever set. It has an
emotional connection that
is mystical, and after I
read it for the first
time, I immediately sat
down and wrote this work
without stop.Rehearsal
NotesIn many cases, art
is more expressive and
reaches a wider range of
human emotions when
multiple artistic fields
are fused together. Such
is the case with choral
music: the intertwining
of literature, music, and
very often dance, visual
arts, and more. The story
in choral music is often
quite specific, much like
film scoring. At times,
the music is the picture
frame (score) around the
picture (text), while at
others the music is the
leading
dramatic/emotional
impetus.In the present
case (My Farewell Wish),
the text is sincere,
innocent, heartfelt, and
earnest. By all accounts,
the message is
altruistic, expressing
selfless desire for
another's present/future
happiness. Capturing this
message has a strong
reliance on the
performers to not only
carry the emotional
intent of the moment (a
phrase of text or a
measure), but the the
energy and continuance of
the message
throughout.The use of the
[o] vowel functions
almost as instrumental
interludes or
underpinning of strings.
The conductor may use the
[o] as indicated in the
score, or a [u] vowel, a
hum (with [o] as the
vowel inside the mouth),
or all three at different
times for different
reasons. In an acoustical
performance (no mic), the
soloist and the ensemble
are a reflection of each
other's natural sound.
And, even gentle, warm
solo voices should have
no trouble projecting.Two
final thoughts: 1) the
obbligato or added voice
or two on high passages
(m. 66) or a single note
(final chord) will be
best delivered by
lyrical, pure voices with
demonstrated control; and
2) the metronome marking
of 80 bpm (mm.
1–81) was strongly
considered and should be
followed.About the
ComposerZ. Randall
Stroope is an American
composer and conductor.
His composition teachers
were Normand Lockwood and
Cecil Effinger, both
students of the Nadia
Boulanger, the famous
French teacher (and
student of Gabriel
FaureÌ). Randall is
the artistic director of
two international summer
music festivals, is an
Honorary Board Member of
the NationalAssociation
of Italian Choral
Directors, and has
conducted in 25
countries. He has
directed over 40 times at
Carnegie Hall, and is a
frequent conductor at
other prestigious concert
venues. Randall has 190
published works, and his
music can be heard on
Spotify, YouTube and
other platforms,
including his website
(www.zrstroope.com).
