Singing Into Being
Instrumentation
SSA Choir (Soprano I, Soprano II, Alto) and Piano
Performance Note
Commissioned for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus
The solo lines may be sung by one singer or multiple singers.
Programme Note
I have known Mary and her husband Raymond for as long as I have lived in Glasgow. They both have always been supportive of my writing and I was incredibly excited when Mary and I first spoke about setting Singing Into Being.
Mary initially wrote Singing Into Being as part of the ‘My Time’ Project supported by Voluntary Arts Scotland, The Scottish Poetry Library, and Creative Arts Scotland, after visiting LOCAL VOCALS, a dementia-friendly singing group in Helensburgh.
I am thankful to Mary for allowing me the freedom to use her poem to explore the music inherent in its words and to the RSNO for all of its time and support in this project.
Singing Into Being
by Mary Thomson
Ancient gods sang the world into being
There is always a before and after
Before speech there was signing and singing
Music speaks of living and laughter
There is always a before and after
A choir makes friends and singers of strangers
Music speaks of living and laughter
Even the silent vibrate to quavers
A choir makes friends and singers of strangers
Singing together makes the timid strong
Even the silent vibrate to quavers
The goddess of Memory gave man Song
Singing together makes the timid strong
A chorus weaves sound into harmony
The goddess of Memory gave man Song
When speaking is hard singing is easy
A chorus weaves sound into harmony
Soft, loud, high, low, generously merge
When speaking is hard singing is easy
Each voice a bird of a different plumage
Soft, loud, high, low, generously merge
Before speech there was signing and singing
Each voice a bird of a different plumage
Ancient gods sang the world into being
Duration
c. 8 minutes