Shelter This Candle - Seafarer Press...Elizabeth Alexander Seafarer Press arerpress.com SEA-080-00...

Elizabeth Alexander

Seafarer Presswww.seafarerpress.com

SEA-080-00 $12.00

Shelter This CandleEdna St. Vincent Millay

SATB, oboe, horn, cello, harp

~ CONDUCTOR’S SCORE ~

To the Wife of a Sick Friend

Shelter this candle from the wind.Hold it steady. In its lightThe cave wherein we wander lostGlitters with frosty stalactite,Blossoms with mineral rose and lotus,Sparkles with crystal moon and star,Till a man would rather be lost than found:We have forgotten where we are.

Shelter this candle. Shrewdly blowingDown the cave from a secret doorEnters our only foe, the wind.Hold it steady. Lest we stand,Each in a sudden, separate dark,The hot wax spattered upon your hand,The smoking wick in my nostrils strong,The inner eyelid red and greenFor a moment yet with moons and roses,—Then the unmitigated dark.

Alone, alone in a terrible place,In utter dark without a face,With only the dripping of the water on the stone,And the sound of your tears, and the taste of my own.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

Copyright 1928, 1955 by Edna St. Vincent Millay and Norma Millay Ellis. Reprinted by permission ofElizabeth Barnett, Literary Executor, The Millay Society.

Edna St. Vincent Millay(q. = 66)

SCORE IN C

Commissioned by VOICES Chorale, Music Director Lyn Ransom

for SATB choir, oboe, horn, cello and harpElizabeth Alexander

Shelter This Candle

© 2008, 2010 by Elizabeth Alexander

S

A

T

B

Oboe

Horn

Violoncello

Harp

5

Choir (Tutti)

Vc

Hp

pizz. lightly

p

pp

MMMOMMMM

sh

hold teeth and lips gently apart, exhale deeplypp

arco

pp mp pp

mp

9

Choir (Tutti)

Hp

14

T

B

Vc

Hp

18

T

B

Hn

Vc

Hp

mp pp

pp

sh

pp

sh

pp

pizz.

p

arco

p

mp pp

mp pp

p

2

22

S

A

Hn

Vc

Hp

26

S

A

T

B

Hn

Vc

Hp

oo

pp

o- oo- o- oo- - o- oo- o- - - - - - oo o- oo- o- -

oo

pp

o- oo- o- oo- - o- oo- o- - - - - - oo o- oo- o- -

mp

oo- o- oo- o- - - oo o- oo- o

mp

- oo- o- oo- o- oo- o- oo- o- oo- o- oo- -

oo- o- oo- o- - - oo o- oo- o

mp

- oo- o- oo- o- oo- o- oo- o- oo- o- oo- -

sh

sh

pp

pp

3

30

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hp

35

Ob

Hn

Hp

38

Hn

Hp

o

pp

o

pp

mp pp

mp pp

p

pp

p

mp

mf f mf

4

41

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

44

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

47

T

B

Vc

Hp

mp

mp

mp

f

mf pp

mf pp

mf

pizz.

m.d.

mf mp

Shel

pp

ter- this

Shel

pp

ter- this

mp

pp

5

Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret & George Alexander, parents B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous

web designer B Scott Bates, poet B Abbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael

deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey,

poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer

B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher,

composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web

designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa,

composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet

B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf

Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven

Stucky, composer/teacher B Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John

Greenleaf Whittier, poet B Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood,

poet B Yehudi Wyner, composer/teacher B Paul Adams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret &

George Alexander, parents B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B

Abbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray

Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet

B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer

B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike,

proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill,

composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher

B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen,

artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald

Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven Stucky, composer/teacher B

Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John Greenleaf Whittier, poet B

Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood, poet B Yehudi Wyner,

composer/teacher B Paul Adams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret & George Alexander, parents

B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B Abbie Betinis,

composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B

Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet

B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet

B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper,

technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet

B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller

B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J.

David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

(YOU KNOW WHY.)

A COMPLETE PERUSAL COPY MAY BE PURCHASED

FROM ELIZABETH ALEXANDER AT

Seafarer PressSeafarer PressSeafarer PressSeafarer Presswww.seafarerpress.com

A LOT OF HARD WORK &CREATIVITY

WENT INTO BRINGING

THIS MUSIC TO YOU...

...AND SOME OF IT

WAS EVEN MINE.

59

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

63

S

A

T

B

Ob

Vc

Hp

can

p

dle,- - - - -

pp

can

p

dle,- - - - -

pp

p

p pp

arco

mp

Shel

pp

ter- this

Shel

pp

ter- this

Shel

pp

ter- this

Shel

pp

ter- this

B§

4

7

67

S

A

T

B

Vc

Hp

70

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

can dle- - from the

can dle- - from the

can dle- - from the

can dle- - from the

wind,

mf p

wind,

mf p

wind,

mf p

o

pp

a- o- a- o- a-

wind,

mf p

o

nondiv. pp

a- o- a- o- a-

p mf p

mp mf p

mf p

f

p bisbigliando Bb

8

75

S

A

T

B

Vc

Hp

79

S

A

T

B

Ob

Vc

Hp

Shel

p

ter- this can

nondiv.

dle- from the

Shel

p

ter- this can dle- from the

o

p

a- o- a- o- a- o

pp

o

p

a- o- a- o- a- o

pp

B§ Gb Bb

wind.

mp

Hold it stead y,-

wind.

mp

Hold it stead y,-

o

pp

a- o- a

mp

- o- a- o-

pp

a o- a- -

o

pp

a- o- a

mp

- o- a- o-

pp

a o- a- -

mp

mp

mp

( MNLOMMLM )

C#

9

82

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

86

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

Hold it stead y,-

pp

Hold it stead y,-

pp

o

p pp

o

p pp

pp

p

pp mp

p

4

p

Hold

pp

it stead

p

y,- - - Hold

pp

Hold

pp

it stead

p

y,- - - Hold

pp

pp

pp

pp

l.v.

10

90

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

94

S

Ob

Vc

Hp

B97

S

A

Vc

Hp

it stead

p

y.- - - - -

pp

it stead

p

y.- - - - -

pp

p

Eb

In

mp

its

C§

Db Ab

light the cave where in- we wan der,-

In

mp

its light the cave where in- we wan - der,

mp

mp( LMLOLMLL )

11





































(YOU KNOW WHY.)





WENT INTO BRINGING


...AND SOME OF IT

WAS EVEN MINE.

109

S

Ob

Vc

Hp

112

S

Ob

Vc

Hp

115

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

Solo

glit

mp

ters,- glit ters- with

C§

frost y- sta lac- tite,-

mp

mf

mf

mf

Change pedals from LMLOLMLL to NNMOMNNM

13

119

S

A

T

B

Hn

Vc

Hp

123

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

Blos

Tuttimp

soms- with min er- al- rose, and

Blos

mp

soms- with min er- - al- rose, and

min

mp

er- al- rose and

min

mp

er- al- rose and

( G§ C§ D§ >)

G§ C§ D§

lo

mf

tus,-

lo

mf

tus,-

lo

mf

tus,-

lo

mf

tus,-

f

gliss.

f

( MMMOMNMM )

14

127

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

131

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

p

p

p

p G# A#

Spar

mf

kles- with crys tal- moon and star, 'Til a

Spar

mf

kles- with crys tal- moon and star, 'Til a

'Til

mf

a

'Til

mf

a

mf

mf

mf

mf

mp

gliss.

gliss.

F§ G§ A§

( MMMOMMMM )

15

135

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

man would rath er- be lost, 'til a man would rath er- be lost,




mp mf

gliss.gliss.

mp

gliss.

gliss.

mf

( MMMOMMMM )

C# F#

( MNMOMNMM )

16

139

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

we would rath er- be lost

we would rath er- be lost we would rath er- be lost



C§

mf

17

143

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

than found.

f

than found.

f

than found.

f

than found.

f

f

f

f

C# f

18

146

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

150

Hn

Vc

Hp

full of awe

We have for got- ten- where we are,

full of awe


full of awe


full of awe


mf

niente

niente

pp

19





































(YOU KNOW WHY.)





WENT INTO BRINGING


...AND SOME OF IT

WAS EVEN MINE.

161

S

A

T

B

Vc

Hp

C164

S

A

T

B

Ob

Vc

Hp

mp pp

Shel

pp

ter- this

Shel

pp

ter- this

mp pp

sh

pp mp

pizz.

p

gliss.gliss. gliss.

( MNMOMNMM )

can

p

dle,- - - - -

pp

can

p

dle,- - - - -

pp

o

pp

a- o- a- o- a- o- a- o- a

p

- o- a- o- a- o- a- o- a- o- a- o- a- - o- a- o-

pp

pp

p

arco flautando, sul tasto

pp

p

( MNMOMNMM )

21

168

S

T

Ob

Hp

172

S

T

Hn

Hp

176

S

A

T

Hn

Vc

Hp

o

pp

i- -

Shrewd

p

ly- blow ing-

o i- - - - - o- i- o- i- - - - - - - -

down the cave from a se cret- door

pp p

o i- o-

niente

en

p

ters- our on

mp

ly- - -

en ters- our on

mp

ly- - -

p pp

p

A#

( MNMOLNMN )

22

179

S

A

T

B

Vc

Hp

182

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

i

p

o- i- o- i- - - - o-

foe

foe, the

mf

i

p

o- i- o- i- - - - o- the

mf

o

mp

a- o- a- o- a- o- a

mf

- - - - o- a- o- - -

o

mp

a- o- a- o- a- o- a

mf

- - - - o- a- o- - -

wind, Hold

f

it stead y,- Hold it

wind, Hold

f


mf

p

f

mf

A§ Bb

23

186

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

191 rallentando molto

S

A

T

B

Hn

Vc

Hp

a

- - -o- a- o- Hold

mp

it stead - -

a- - - o- a- o- Hold

mp

it stead - -

stead y,-

mf

Hold

mp

it stead - -

stead y,-

mf

Hold

mp

it stead - -

pp p pp

mp

( MNLOLNMM )

mp

y.-

niente

lest

mf

we

y.-

niente

y.-

niente

lest

mf

we

y.-

niente

pesante

mf pesante

pesante

24

D a tempo196

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

202

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

stand each in a sud den,- sep

mp

a- rate- dark,

pp

whispered: mp

sud

den,- se

par- ate,-

stand each in a sud den,- sep

mp

a- rate- dark,

pp

hold teeth and lips gently apart, exhale deeply pp

sh

pp

f

pp

f

f C# E§ F§ Gb

[o i- o- i- o- i- o]-

The

p

[o i- o- i- - o]-

mp pp

arco

p

25

209

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

213

T

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

hot (t) wax (x) spat tered- up on- your hand,

The

p

p

p

C# E§ F§ Gb

mf

MNLOMMLM

smok ing- - wick in my nos trils- - strong,

p 4

G# C§

LMLOMMNM

26





































(YOU KNOW WHY.)





WENT INTO BRINGING


...AND SOME OF IT

WAS EVEN MINE.

224

S

A

T

B

Ob

Vc

Hp

230

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

mo ment- yet with moon and ros

mf

es,-

mo ment- yet with moon and ros

mf

es,-

warmly mp

with moon and ro ses,-

warmly mp

with moon and ro ses,-

mf

p

mf

G§

MMLOLNMM

D§ A§ mf

p

then

pp

the un mit- i- ga- ted- dark, the un

then

pp

the un mit- i- ga- ted- dark, the un

warmly

p

pp

play low on strings (not quite pres de la table )

E#

MMLONNMM

F§ E§ C#

28

237

S

A

T

B

Ob

Vc

Hp

244

S

A

T

B

Ob

Vc

Hp

Solo

A

mf

lone,- a lone- in a ter ri- ble-

a

p

lone,-

mit i- ga- ted- dark,

mp

a

p

lone,-

mit i- ga- ted- dark,

mp

mp

sul pont. (gradually accelerate into unmeasured tremolos)

mf

Gb

MNLOMMLM

mf

place,

p

a

p

lone,-

niente

a

p

lone,-

niente

in

pp

ut ter-

p

pp

pp

29

251

S

A

T

B

Vc

Hp

F259

S

A

T

B

Hp

Tutti

[o

pp sotto voce

a- o- a- o- a- - o- a- o- a- o- a- o]-

dark, with out- a face,

niente

lonely

p C§ B§ Eb

with

pp

on ly- the drip ping- on the

with

pp


with

pp


with

pp


MMMOLMLM

30

264

S

A

T

B

Hn

Vc

Hp

268

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

stone and the sound of your tears, and the




con sordino

p p

gliss.

G§ Ab

taste

pp

of my own

taste

pp

of my own

taste

pp

of my own

taste

pp

of my own

p

gliss.

Gb A§

31

G272

Ob

Vc

Hp

276

Ob

Vc

Hp

280

Ob

Vc

Hp

4

gliss.

MMMOLMLM

gliss.

32

H284

S

A

Ob

Vc

Hp

288

S

A

Vc

Hp

Shel

pp

ter- this

Shel

pp

ter- this

Bb E§ C# G§

( MNLOMMMM )

can dle,- - - - -

Shel

p

ter- this

can dle,- - - - -

Shel

p

ter- this

gliss.

33

292

S

A

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

296

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

can dle,- - - - - - -

can dle,- - - - - - -

mp

p mp

mp

mp

Hold

mp

it

Hold

mp

it

Hold

mp


C§

gliss.

34

300

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

stead y,- hold it

stead y,- hold

it

stead y,- hold it

Hold

mp

it stead y,- hold it

mf 7

mf

mf

mf

35





































(YOU KNOW WHY.)





WENT INTO BRINGING


...AND SOME OF IT

WAS EVEN MINE.

307

S

A

Vc

Hp

311

S

A

T

B

Vc

Hp

sh

pp mf

sh

pp mf

sul tasto, flautando

pp mp

p

pp

pp

Shel

pp

ter- this can

p

dle,- - - - -

Shel

pp

ter- this can

p

dle,- - - - -

pizz.

37

315

S

A

T

B

Vc

Hp

321

S

A

T

B

Ob

Vc

Hp

oo

pp

o- oo- o- oo- o- oo- o-

p

oo- o-

pp

oo

pp

o- oo- o- oo- o- oo- o-

p

oo- o-

pp

pp

Shel

p

ter- this

pp

Shel

p

ter- this

gliss.

Bb

sh

pp

sh

pp

can

p

dle,- - - - -

pp

can

p

dle,- - - - -

pp

p

pizz.

38

325

S

A

T

B

Ob

Hn

Vc

Hp

J331

Solo

Solo

A

B

Hn

Vc

Hp

mf pp

mf

Hold

pp

it

sh

mp mf pp

Hold

pp

it

p

gliss.

stead

mp sing to the other soloist, or directly to the audience

y,-

mp sing to the other soloist, or directly to the audience

stead y,-

stead y.- -

stead y.- -

pp

pp

arco: change bow discreetly

p bisbigliando

39

335

Solo

Solo

A

B

Vc

Hp

339

Solo

Solo

A

B

Vc

Hp

stead y,-

stead y,-

stead y.-

stead y.-

stead y,-

stead y,- stead y,-

stead y.-

stead y.-

40

343

Solo

Solo

A

B

Vc

Hp

347

Solo

Solo

A

B

Vc

Hp

stead

p

y,- - -

stead

ppp

y.-

stead

ppp

y.-

stead y,- -

stead

p

y,-

stead y.-

stead y.-

41

351

Solo

Solo

S

A

T

B

Vc

Hp

356

S

A

T

B

Hp

stead y.- -

stead y,-

sh

pp

niente

sh

pp

niente

mp niente

Breathe slowly and deeply, listening carefully:

mp niente

Breathe slowly and deeply, listening carefully:

42

Composer’s Notes:

Before I composed a single note of Shelter This Candle, I already knew several things about thepiece. I knew that the poem spoke of love’s ability to transform even the darkest moments of ourlives into times of comfort, connection and wonderment. I loved the delicious images that thepoem offered: light, darkness, exhilaration, loneliness, and the sounds of wind and falling tears. The combination of harp, oboe, horn, cello and choir was nothing short of luscious.

What I did not imagine was how Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem would enter my consciousnessso deeply.

I composed the first section of Shelter This Candle with a light heart. Crafting the brilliantunderground world of “crystal moon and star” was a delight for me, full of “child in a candyshop” moments. After about ten days of composing, satisfied with my work thus far, I laid thesong aside for several weeks in order to complete an orchestra piece.

Little did I know what was in store for me when I returned to face the second half of the poem,and the entrance of “our only foe, the wind.” On some level, I had lost track of the importanceof the poem’s title: “To the Wife Of a Sick Friend”! Oh yes, I remembered. This poem is abouthow we respond to the most difficult times of life, when we could easily become overwhelmed bygrief or despair. During times like these, leaving the cave is not an option.

Every day, as I worked on the second, darker section of the piece, those words repeatedthemselves to me — leaving the cave is not an option. The conclusion of the song needed apalpable sense of how dreadfully lonely the darkness can become if we allow the light of ourlove to be extinguished. I took many walks, and reminded myself to breathe. One day, Isuddenly understood the exact significance of the last line of the poem: if the candle is allowedto go out, the poet will be able to taste her own tears, but she will only be able to hear herfriend’s tears, echoing somewhere out in the dark space, far away.

After the final words of the poem had been set to music, there was still something more to say,but it took me a long time to figure out exactly how to conclude this song. The answer lay, onceagain, in the poem’s title: “To the Wife Of a Sick Friend.” Of course, I thought. We are, all ofus in the whole world, in this big earthly cave together. But in the poem itself, there are only twosolitary characters: Edna and her friend’s wife, holding one candle between them, singing toeach other with everything in their hearts: “Steady, steady, steady...”

- E.A.April 13, 2008

Date post:	01-Aug-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	3 times
Download:	0 times

Shelter This Candle - Seafarer Press...Elizabeth Alexander Seafarer Press arerpress.com SEA-080-00...

Documents