“i thank You God for many this superb day is such an exquisite and joyous poem that the music was at instances virtually easy,” writes American composer Eric Whitacre (b. 1970).
The shimmering a cappella choral setting of e.e. cummings’ poetic prayer concludes Whitacre’s Three Songs of Religion, composed in 1999. On this work, the colourful sound of the human voice turns into an expression of ecstasy. Celestial aspiring strains and brilliant, sensuous tonal clusters evoke awe, surprise, and joyous gratitude.
Leonard Bernstein stated that he might now not keep in mind the query posed by Ives’ The Unanswered Question, however he knew that the reply was “sure.” The same assertion may be discovered within the poem’s textual content.
This 2010 recording options the Eric Whitacre Singers, led by the composer:
i thank You God for many this superb
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of bushes
and a blue true dream of sky; and for all the things
which is pure which is infinite which is sure(i who’ve died am alive once more in the present day,
and that is the solar’s birthday; that is the start
day of life and love and wings: and of the homosexual
nice occurring illimitably earth)how ought to tasting touching listening to seeing
respiratory any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
-e.e. cummings
Recordings
- Whitacre: Three Songs Of Religion: I Thank You God For Most This Superb Day, Eric Whitacre, Eric Whitacre Singers ericwhitacre.com
Featured Picture: “The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth” (1914), Jennie A. Brownscombe
