Sarah Rimkus
The Arctic Tern’s Prayer for SATB choir
words by Mary Anne Clark
Sarah Rimkus – The Arctic Tern’s Prayer (2021) for SATB choir with divisi (c. 4’40”) Commissioned by Nazareth College Chamber Singers. Brian M. Stevens, music director. Tell the air to hold me in the rushing heart of it And keep its paths straight Away from home let there be a land that Flows with fish and flies And let it taste like it tasted at home Home take this salty scent of home from my head Cut away the memory of its last ultraviolet Flash beautiful beneath me Don’t turn me to a twist of salt to fall to Sea’s saltiness if I look back at my home Let me look back just once let me Look back Text © Mary Anne Clark, used with permission.
Program Note:
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49
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F species in the world. These sleek gray The arctic tern has the longest migration path of any bird 3 3 and white birds breed in the Arctic during the northern summer to œ months œ œ and œ migrate œ ˙ ∑ ∑ Œ Œ daylight Œ the Antarctic coast for the southern summer, traveling at least 25,000 miles than any J andJseeing more other creature over the course of each year. I discovered thisletpoem after me look backlearning of my friend just and once collaborator Brian Stevens’ love of bird watching, searching for a poem in honor of these creatures and their resilience. These beautiful birds and their journey are perfectly encapsulated by the urgency and lyricism in Mary Anne Clark’s stunning poem,p The Arctic Tern’s Prayer. ∑
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for Brian Stevens
The Arctic Tern's Prayer Sarah Rimkus Steady, q = c. 96-102
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Perusal score - not licensed for performance © Sarah Rimkus (music), 2021. www.sarahrimkus.com | sarahrimkuscomposer@gmail.com
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Perusal score - not licensed for performance