#do not stand

[dedmau]

sprigatito better stay on the goddam ground

[afmori]

Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die. -Mary Elizabeth Frye

[kalistewartmusic]

"Do Not Stand," my newest art song

Composer's note: In a time of personal loss, I found this poem to be very comforting and thought the most beautiful qualities of the text could bring out and enhanced by music. My biggest hope for this piece is that it's a small comfort to anyone else who's experiencing grief and loss as I did.

Additional background on this piece: I met Isabel, the soprano who debuted this piece, last spring. We've been in our school’s 12-person jazz choir since last fall (and chamber choir a year ago) so I had a pretty good idea about her voice and range. When the idea for this art song popped up in my head, considering its message and tone, I imagined it with a voice like her sweet lyric timbre and just went with it. I knew I needed to write it sooner rather than later, as we're both planning on transferring this autumn to different schools. I'm feeling the crunch in general to work with the people I've wanted to and won't see as often after spring semester is over!

The poem I used can be found here.

(Note: If you are watching this on my blog page, be sure to pause the playlist I have off to the side before playing the video.)

[kalistewartmusic]

Today's Richland Student Composers' Recital

The premiere of a new art song went swimmingly! I’m so pleased I got to work with a talented singer friend of mine, Isabel, in our last full semester here at Richland before both of us transfer next fall. My only dissatisfaction is that both she and the accompanist had to run before I could give them the bouquets I had requested my mother make for me to give to them!

Video and recording are forthcoming.

[douwefrancis]

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Tungud ni sa blog ni jik... na-intriga man ko sa text sa poem so mao na ni siya... hehe

An early version, printed by others on postcards:

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there. I did not die.

A later confirmed version:

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am in a thousand winds that blow,

I am the softly falling snow.

I am the gentle showers of rain,

I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,

I am in the graceful rush

Of beautiful birds in circling flight,

I am the starshine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom,

I am in a quiet room.

I am in the birds that sing,

I am in each lovely thing.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there. I do not die.

[nuslegionary-blog]

Do not stand at my grave and weep

[thetrenddirectory-blog]

One of my favourite poems :)