A LA PUERTA DEL CIELO
This charming Basque lullaby consists of a melody in two verses with a gentle refrain and is built on a diatonic scale, ascending and descending by step and small skip. The harmony in the second verse derives from the melody and is well prepared. The harmony in verse 3 emerges from a straightforward two-part canon based upon verse one (with a minor adjustment to the canon in part I, bar 62). The rocking piano accompaniment enhances the sense of comfort inherent in this folksong. This piece is ideal for beginning choruses or for any two-part treble ensemble that wishes to program a short work with immediate and heartfelt appeal.
