Issuu

Flower Chant Gala Flagello

Program Note

Flower Chant (2023) was commissioned by the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus and sets a text inspired by a line from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1847 poem “Hamatreya,” “the earth laughs in flowers.” I was struck by not only the beauty of this personifying imagery but how it empowers the planet in the fatal equation that is humans’ destruction of it. Whereas Emerson’s poem focuses on humankind’s arrogance and supposed environmental ownership, this poem and piece center the earth’s resilience, fragility, and hope for the future. Thank you to the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus Treble Ensemble and Alex Canovas, conductor, for premiering Flower Chant and for their dedication to new music for choir.

Text

The earth laughs in flowers moss leaves grass rivers lakes sunshine mountains moments eras centuries please, more centuries

Duration: 4:30

Commissioned by the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus Treble Ensemble, Alex Canovas, conductor Premiered May 20, 2023

PERUSALSCORE

First printing of this edition, February 2023

- Gala Flagello 2023

Flower Chant

Hmm, p distant, ritualistic

Hmm, p distant, ritualistic hmm, hmm, hmm, Hmm, p distant, ritualistic hmm, hmm, distant, p ritualistic Hmm, p distant, ritualistic

oo, oh, � oh, oh,

oo, oh, � oh, oh, oo, oh, � oh, oh, oh, � oh, oh, � S. A. aw, � ah, ha f bright hahahaha, hahahahaha, 13 aw, � ah, ha f bright hahahaha, hahahahaha, aw, � ah, ha f bright hahaha, hahahaha, aw, � ah, ha f bright hahahaha,haha � f bright

hahahahaha, hahahahaha,hahahahaha,ha

hahahahaha, hahahahaha,hahahahaha,hahahaha hahahaha, hahahaha,hahahaha,hahaha

hahaha, hahahahaha,hahahahaha,hahahahaha,

S. A.

hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha

ha,hahahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha ha,hahahaha,hahahahaha,hahahaha,haha,hahahaha,haha hahahahaha,hahahahahaha,hahahaha,haha,hahahaha,haha

gradually close to "mm" p tenderly

earth, the gradually close to "mm" p tenderly

molto legato earth, the gradually close to "mm" p tenderly

earth, theearth,theearth, the

earth, theearth,theearth,

laughsin�ow

laughsin�owers,

theearthlaughsin,laughsin

ers, f �owers, - in�owers, - �owers, - �owers, -

�ow f ers, - in�owers, - in�owers, - in�owers, - �owers, - �owers, -

�owers, - �owers, - �owers, - �owers, - �owers, - the molto rit.

�owers, - �owers, - �owers, - �owers, - �owers, - the

With energy and delight q = 144

laughs. �p Hmm, f p

laughs. �p Hmm, f hmm, p distant, ritualistic laughs. �p Ha f hahahaha p hahmm, distant, ritualistic laughs. �p Ha f hahahaha p haha �p f p distant, ritualistic

in �ow

ers, in�owers, - the earth

in �ow f ers, in�owers, - the earth ha f bright hahaha, hahahaha,hahahaha,hahaha ha f bright hahahaha,hahahahaha,hahahahaha, f bright S.

laughsin�owers, - hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha

laughsin�owers, - hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha,hahahaha ha,hahahaha,hahahahaha,hahahaha,haha,hahahaha,haha hahahahaha,hahahahahaha,hahahaha,haha,hahahaha,haha

ah,

moss, p sub. (ss) f leaves, p (s) f grass, p legato rivers,111 moss, p sub. (ss) f leaves, p (s) f grass, p legato rivers, -

lakes, thetheearthlaughsin sun f effusive shine, - inmountains, - inmoments, - in 117 lakes, thetheearthlaughsin sun f effusive shine, - inmountains, - inmoments, - in f effusive

moments, - in e p ras, - ineras, - ineras, - theearthlaughsin

moments, - in e p ras, - ineras, - ineras, - theearthlaughsin p

Triumphantly q = 160

the � legato earthlaughsin

the � legato earthlaughs,theearthlaughsin the p legato earthlaughs,theearthlaughs,theearthlaughsin earthlaughs,theearthlaughs,the earth p laughs,theearthlaughs,theearthlaughsin