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The Leaves Are Many

SATB a cappella - 3.5 minutes - medium difficulty

I composed this piece at a campsite in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area the summer of 2015. W.B. Yeats is well-known as one of the greatest Irish poets of his day. The rich imagery of his words lent itself to this setting, which is a gentle play on the lydian and mixolydian modes. Singers will love the lush sonoroties and use of tonal colors in this introspective piece.

The Coming of Wisdom with Time

Though leaves are many, the root is one;
Through all the lying days of my youth
I swayed my leaves and flowers in the sun;
Now I may wither into the truth.

- W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)