Silent Snowfall

Description

Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Bass, Piano — The author of the text of the piece, John Vance Cheney (1849-1922), was an American poet who, in addition to contributing to literary magazines, also spent part of his life teaching music and managing libraries. His poem about the silent beauty of a winter snowfall is included in its entirety below:Snowflakes falling all the nightFalling all the daySilent into silenceFrom the far awayStilly host unnumberedAll the night and dayFalling falling fallingFrom the far awayNever came like gloryTo the fields and treesNever summer blossomsThick and white as theseFalling all the night timeFalling all the dayFollow follow followFold it soft awayFolding folding foldingFold the world awaySouls of flowers driftingDown the winter dayThe poem asserts that the snowflakes on the trees and fields are more beautiful than the blossoms that were there in the summer. It poetically depicts the snowflakes as the drifting souls of those summer flowers. The poem is set to music in a minor key (minor keys are often used to convey sadness), representing the stark, melancholy beauty of the "souls of flowers" covering the world. The poem's repeated text (e.g., "falling, falling, falling") helps to capture the continuous nature of the snowfall. Just as the adjectives in the poetry characterize the snowfall as soft and gentle, strive to sing this piece in a gentle, legato style. Be sure that when the melody is in the bass part that the tenor part is performed with a hushed, delicate quality. As you sing, try to let your performance depict for your audience the quiet beauty of the falling snow. Farnell captures the exquisite beauty, wonder, and starkness of the falling snow through both picture painting and melodic treatment in this poignant and accessible piece for treble choirs. The optional notes throughout provide opportunities to "fill out" chords at the discretion of the director. Silent Snowfall is a holiday programming must. Also available for TB Voices (BL111).

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