Sing To Celebrate Summer
(2010) for tenor, harp and optional audience participation
Poem by Geoffrey Chaucer
Duration: 4'
Commissioned by the Buck Hill-Skytop Music Festival

World Premiere: 6 August 2010 at the Skytop Lodge, Skytop, PA

Publisher:  Novello & Co Ltd

Composer's Note:

This work, written specially to celebrate the official opening of the upper path to the Falls at Buck Hill for the new Buck Hill-Skytop Music Festival, is dedicated to Dr. David S. Mazza.

The sound of the two spectacular waterfalls is represented by the music written for the harp. The Harp also imitates the singing of the birds described in the poem by Geoffrey Chaucer.

Now welcome Summer with thy sunnë soft,
That hast this winter’s weathers overshake,
And driven away the longë nightës black.

Saint Valentine, that art full high aloft,
Thus singen smallë fowlës for thy sake:
Now welcome Summer with thy sunnë soft,
That hast this winter’s weathers overshake.

Well have they cause for to gladden oft,
Since each of them recovered hath his make.
Full blissful may they singe when they wake:
Now welcome Summer with thy sunnë soft,
That hast this winter’s weathers overshake,
And driven away the longë nightës black!

           from THE PARLIAMENT OF FOWLS
           GEOFFREY CHAUCER (c. 1340-1400)
 

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