A haunting and contemplative winter meditation on a gate, the woods, and a Star that lies “…somewhere beyond / on the other side of fear, of hopelessness.”
The Gate is Open (2019)
SATB a cappella – 3′ – medium difficulty
Music by Elizabeth Alexander
Poem by Sister Peronne Marie Thibert
Seafarer Press / SEA-097-01 / https://www.seafarerpress.com/works/the-gate-is-open
The Gate is Open
The gate is open
dare we enter
the snow looks heavy, deep,
the woods, dark, deeper still
the Star, we’re told,
is somewhere beyond
on the other side of fear,
of hopelessness
The gate is open
dare we enter
dare believe…
Poem © 2004 by Sister Peronne Marie Thibert. Reprinted by permission of the author. All rights reserved.
“We began exploring the work last night. I played through it and guided [the choir] through the work. We sang it through once, and afterwards: silence. It is just a stunning work, and will be such such such an incredible way for us to close this concert.” – Mark Bilyeu, Artistic Director, South Metro Chorale
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