Spirit of Song

For Mom and Dad

text: James Brunton Stephens

Composer’s Notes:

Where do I even begin? There are so many personal connections that go into the creation of this work!
I’ll start here: As a high schooler, I went to Interlochen Arts Academy. Bruce Galbraith was my headmaster. Later on, I joined the Naples (FL) Philharmonic as a trumpeter, and became reacquainted with my former headmaster when he also moved to southwest Florida. Around the same time, my parents also moved to Florida, and they sang in a group called the Bay Singers.
As my professional life moved toward composition and conducting, Bruce was always very active in discussions about my career, and always forging connections for me through his impressive network. It was after one such concert that I conducted that he approached me with the idea of writing a choral work as a tribute to my parents, to be sung by the Bay Singers, in that he had become their conductor.

He later supplied me with the following text (by Stephens), and it was time to go to work:

Weaver of harmony, giver of mirth. Mingling thy notes with the voices of Earth; Soothing the weak and inspiring the strong, Charming our senses, sweet Spirit of Song!

Angel of happiness, Soaring above, Thou art the bearer of goodness and love, It is to music that our hearts belong. Oh! thou art dear to us, Spirit of Song!

The music: The first thing that inspired me was the first word, “weaver”. And so it follows that a string of almost constant eighth notes weave their way through the work, supported by different harmonies as they unfold. The next thing that struck me was how the two stanzas so accurately describe my parents. I chose to have the first stanza represent my father: he always sat at the piano when I was a kid (and still does), playing show-tunes, and adding beautiful harmonies with a great touch. The piano writing in “Spirit of Song” reflects the style – to the best that I can recall – in which he played.
The altos (my mother’s voice), in essence, sing this first stanza to my father, and describing him. The second stanza is then sung by the tenors (my father’s voice), back to the altos, perfectly describing my mother. After a brief piano interlude, the entire chorus enters, fully harmonizing the text. Spirit of Song ends quietly, because it was the only way I could think to try match the sweetness that comes to mind when I think of my parents.

I can’t thank Bruce enough for thinking of me for collaboration on this new choral work, and the Bonita Bay Singers for supporting the idea. As we walk through this path of life, it seems that we need to take hold of the precious moments as best we can when they present themselves. All of the factors that came together to create this special work mean a great deal to me, and I am so proud and humbled to be a part of it.

If you are singing this, please think of someone special, and sing it for them in your mind and with all your heart.

Jim Stephenson December 6, 2014.