SKU: GI.G-9957
UPC: 785147995708. English. Text by Kazuaki Tanahashi.
In my opinion our world is currently in great need of reestablishing strong connections one to another, be it with family and friends, neighbors and strangers, nations and nations, or with those of different cultures and religions. In his important book, I and Thou, philosopher-theologian Martin Buber says that the most meaningful life is centered on relationship. As a musician, I felt compelled to express the I-THOU thesis through the human voice. In searching for the right words to express this sentiment, I was fortunate to find Kazuaki Tanahashi’s eloquent poem, “Encounter.†Mr. Tanahashi is a poet, Zen artist, scholar and peace activist. This combined-voices version has been adapted from an SATB scoring that features prominently in the original song cycle, I-THOU, written for vocal quartet, commissioned and premiered in 2018 by Fourth Coast Ensemble in Chicago. —Wayland Rogers About the Series: Doreen Rao, 2019 Robert Shaw Award recipient, launches her culturally inclusive choral series, Global Encounters for Young Voices, featuring accessible treble- and mixed-voice works for developing choirs.
SKU: GI.G-9958
UPC: 785147995807. English. Text Source: From I Loved You First, Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894, alt. Text by Christina Rossetti.
 The English Romantic poet, Christina Rossetti (1830–1894), is chiefly known for her mystic religious lyrics. Her limited number of love poems are mostly of an unhappy nature, rather like objective expressions of happiness denied. A certain steely stoicism within her caused her to turn away from love twice in her lifetime with two separate men. There is no evidence of resolute refusal of love in this poem, however. Here she profusely proclaims her deep love for another. Wayland Rogers has set the last five lines of I Loved You First to music. The setting is an excerpt from his song cycle, I-Thou , which was commissioned and premiered by Fourth Coast Ensemble in Chicago in 2018. About the Series: Doreen Rao, 2019 Robert Shaw Award recipient, launches her culturally inclusive choral series, Global Encounters for Young Voices, featuring accessible treble- and mixed-voice works for developing choirs.
