Canadian Voices: Singing in the End - Jane Berry
It’s an odd endeavor to think back to this past summer when I was presented with the opportunity to write a new work for ProCoro Canada. I was immediately excited and grateful to be a part of this project but I vividly remember how strange it felt to embark on writing a new work at a time when the future of choral singing felt so precariously perched. I knew in my heart that it was futile to try and push aside the intense feelings, thoughts, and emotions that I, like so many others, was experiencing at the time, so instead I decided to try and embrace them as intentionally as possible.
Personally, as a composer, finding a text to set that truly speaks to me is of the utmost importance so I decided to reach out to my favourite poet, Brandon Wint, to see if he had any recent works that I may be able to use for the purposes of this project. He sent me a variety of poems and poetic fragments to choose from but as soon as I read the following opening segment of his work “Singing in the End” I knew that this was the text I would set.
“All the poems carry on
hunting bits of paradise.
I fasten hope to this song, the music of my life
And if it’s coming anyway, I’ll make of death a friend.
If the reaper finds me waiting, I’ll be singing in the end.”
The text resonated with me on so many levels: it felt ominous, haunting, rebellious, hopeful, defiant, and it held the making of ones art as the highest priority above all else. All of this I felt, all of this I was living at the time. I had lost virtually all of my artistic avenues of community and connection and I wanted nothing more than to gather and sing as I once had, but the potential repercussions were simply unfathomable and made this feel like a very distant dream.
The evening that I received these texts from Brandon I found myself at the piano sketching ideas down before our conversation had even ended and the body of the piece was written before I went to sleep that night. It felt as though his words allowed me to say something that my soul had been just waiting and wanting to express and convey so badly for a long time. I know that many people say that when words fail music speaks, but in this case I believe that Brandon’s words spoke so strongly to me that the only way I knew how to add anything at all to them was to bring them to life in song.
Pro Coro Canada Quartet (from left) Annette Martens, Amy Voyer, Caleb Nelson, Simon Noster.
Michael Zaugg, Conductor
The song begins almost from nothing and there is a stark feeling of loneliness and melancholy in the opening melody. This is mirrored at the end of the work, when a single melody fades once again to a single note, and then back to nothing. There is defiance built into the phrasing of the alto line paired with the text “this is not the end,” and there is joy in the refrain “I’ll be singing in the end.” The four voice parts come together to share in the joy momentarily towards the works end but ultimately, this work is framed by the unknown and more indicative of a longing to sing together than a celebration of doing so. Perhaps someday if we are ever able to sing this piece together as a full choir that feeling will change; I certainly hope so :)
Singing in the End - Jane Berry
Canadian Poet Brandon Wint
Singing In The End
By Brandon Wint
All the poems carry on
hunting bits of paradise,
I fasten hope to this song, the music of my life.
And if it's coming anyway, I'll make of death a friend.
If the reaper finds me waiting, I'll be singing in the end.
This is not the end;
I still see such beauty lurking,
though I hear the bells of dirges,
I give thanks to those deserving,
press my hands to good things earthen.
Though the path is less than certain,
I stretch my hands to work with purpose,
do not court the amber curtain of my death.
And if it's coming anyway, I'll make of death a friend.
If the reaper finds me waiting, I'll be singing in the end.
Canadian Voices - Edmonton
Watch the entire Canadian Voices Series on Pro Coro TV
Coming Soon to ProCoroTV:
The Little Match Girl Passion
Sunday, December 13th 7PM MDT
Pro Coro's annual winter performance of David Lang's Pulitzer Prize-winning work "The Little Match Girl Passion"
The performance will start at 7:00 p.m.
More from Jane Berry
Chase Your Joy: A Lesson From My Mom
“This Mother’s Day, I’m sure the morning light will still come tinged with a hint of sorrow but I will take some time for music and recall with my daughter some of the lighter times we all shared. We’ll look through old photos and reminisce about Nanny’s strength, her passion, and her mischievous side.”
Jane reflects on her mother, and composing Mass For Recovery: Phoenix Rising for Pro Coro in her honour.
