Music by James M. Stephenson
Text by Dorothy Parker
“Prayer for a New Mother” explores the point-of-view of Mary, as she was never truly allowed to have a “normal” relationship with her Son. A very touching poem treated with respect and beauty by composer James M. Stephenson (premieres with Minnesota Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Pro Arte Chamber Orch./Boston, Naples Philharmonic with hundreds of performances annually).
A cappella:
The things she knew, let her forget again
The voices in the sky, the fear, the cold
The gaping shepherds, and the queer old men
Piling their gifts of foreign gold.
Let her have laughter with her little one;
Teach her the endless, tuneless songs to sing,
Grant her the right to whisper to her son
The foolish names one dare not call a king.
Keep from her dreams the rumble of a crowd,
The smell of rough-cut wood, the trail of red,
The thick and chilly whiteness of the shroud
That wraps the strange new body of the dead.
Ah, let her go, kind Lord, where mothers go
And boast his pretty words and ways, and plan
The proud and happy years that they shall know
Together, when her son is grown a man.
[Repeat:] The things she knew, let her forget again; forget again.
Suitable for all choirs: community, church, college or professional
Duration 3’30”
Listen http://www.stephensonmusic.com/mp3s/prayer-for-a-new-mother_a-cappella.mp3
Price $1.90 ea.
To order: http://www.stephensonmusic.com/store/vocal.htm
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