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This is My Delight

SATB a cappella - 6 min - hard difficulty

Rabindranath Tagore's writing in the Gitanjali has moved and inspired generations of artists. I was particularly interested in the vivid imagery of this text... "where shadow chases light"... "the perfume of promise". Tagore paints an elusive portrait of the pursuit of purpose throughout life. The harmonies and counterpoint is similarly elusive and your choir will find so much to sink their teeth into. Moments of bass choir / treble choir occur, creating contrast and an opportunity for each half of the choir to shine.

Poem No.44 from Gitanjali

This is my delight, thus to wait
and watch at the wayside
where shadow chases light
and the rain comes
in the wake of the summer.
Messengers, with tidings from unknown skies,
greet me and speed along the road.
My heart is glad within,
and the breath of the passing breeze is sweet.
From dawn till dusk
I sit here before my door,
and I know that of a sudden
the happy moment will arrive when I shall see.
In the meanwhile I smile
and I sing all alone.
In the meanwhile the air is filling
with the perfume of promise.

- Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)