Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Do not stand at my grave and weep

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep is a free of rights poem written in 1932 by Mary Elizabeth Frye. Frye allegedly found herself composing the piece of verse on a brown paper shopping bag.

When I found the poem (as with all great findings, by accident :) ) it resonated with me, and I quickly found myself humming a melody to it. It's my first composition for a piano, clarinet, cello trio.

The piece is conceived as an elaborate harmonization of a single note ("e"). Throughout the first verse you can hum the note "e" to the melody. After a modulation the text is repeated and the pedal note becomes the note "f".

Enjoy!
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.