Beauty For SSA Choir And harp (or piano)
Beauty by
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Rommereim
The red dawn now is rearranging the earth
Thought by thought
Beauty by beauty
Each sunrise a link in the ladder
Thought by thought
Beauty by beauty
The ladder the backbone
Of shimmering deity
Thought by thought
Beauty by beauty
Child stirring in the web of your mother
Do not be afraid
Old man turning to walk through the door
Do not be afraid
Joy HarjoNotes from the composer:
I was inspired by the way this poem by Joy Harjo draws our attention to the wonder and mystery of the living presence that continually transforms and rearranges the world, "thought by thought, beauty, by beauty." I can’t explain how it is that the call to cast away fear that abruptly appears in the last four lines grows out of this encounter with beauty in the poem’s beginning; nonetheless, it feels completely right. The connection isn’t spelled out, but it seems that the meaning of the poem emerges when we contemplate how these two things are linked: the beauty and intelligence that surrounds us in nature, and the call to cast out fear. Fearing death is certainly a reasonable thing to do What could be more fearsome than death? Yet the poem tells us not to be afraid. Why not? For an answer, we look back to the first part of the poem. This piece was written to honor the life of our dear friend Jean Ketter, a member of Vox Feminae, the choir that premiered it, and a long-time colleague of mine at Grinnell College. Jean was a both a gentle and a courageous person, and I hope that this piece has some of her spirit in it an openness to beauty, and a refusal to let fear govern one’s life.
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° ¢ { ° ¢ { MusicCopyright©2023byJohnRommereim.TextCopyright©JoyHarjo, usedbypermissionoftheWylieagencyLLC. Soprano Soprano2 Alto Harp (orpiano) q=150 p gentlyaccented q=150 S. S.2 A. Hp. the p 3 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 & 1 Ú Ú BeautybyBeauty InlovingmemoryofJeanKetter JohnRommereim JoyHarjo & Ú Ú & Ú Ú & > > œ œœ > œ > œ œœ œ ? > œœ b > œbœ > œœ b œ œ & 1 Ú & Ú Ú & Ú Ú & > > > œœ œ œ > œ œœ œ ? > œœ b > œœ b > œ œ > œœ œjœ™ ˙ œjœ™ ˙ ∑ Ó Œ œ œjœ™ ˙ œj œ™ ˙ = This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. S.2 A. Hp. red dawn now is 5 the p red dawn now the p red dawn now S. S.2 A. Hp. re ar - -ran ging - the earth 7 is re ar - -ran ging - the earth is re ar - -ran ging - the 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 & 1 & & & > > œ œ > œ œ œ œ > œ œ ? > bœœ œbœ > œœ b œ œ & 1 & & & ? > > ? œ œ > œ œœ b œbœœ œ ? > bœœ œ > œ œ > œœ w w w™ b˙ Œ œ w ˙ ˙ w™ Ó Œ œ w w w œjœ™ ˙ œjœ™ ˙ ˙™ œ b˙ ˙ ˙™ bœ w b˙ ˙™ œb˙ w œbœ ˙ ˙ b˙ ˙™ œ b˙ w œbœ œ Jœ™ ˙ œ J œ™ ˙ = 2 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. S.2 A. Hp. thought pp by thought 9 earth thought pp by thought p S. A. Hp. beau mp -ty by 12 beau mp -ty by 9 8 9 8 9 8 9 8 9 8 4 2 9 8 4 2 9 8 4 2 9 8 4 2 9 8 & 1 tutti & ∑ & ? Ú œœœ œ œ œ > œ œ ? Ú > bœ > œ œ œ bœ ∏ ∏ ∏ > œ bœ > bœ & & ? Ú > œ œœ > œ œ œ œœ ? Ú bœ œ bœ > bœ bœ œ w ˙ Ó w w œ™ œ ˙ w ˙ Ó ∑ ∑ w ˙ Ó w w œ™ œ ˙ bœJœ™ ˙ œ J œ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ œ Œ ˙ w ˙ œ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ œ Œ ˙ bw ˙ Ó = 3 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. A. Hp. beau mf ty -15 beau mf ty -p S. A. Hp. pp thought pp by thought mp 18 pp thought pp by thought mp 9 8 9 8 9 8 9 8 4 2 9 8 4 2 9 8 4 2 9 8 4 2 9 8 & & ? œ > œ œ > œ œœ > œ œ > œ œœ œ œ ? œ bœ ∏ ∏ ∏ > œ bœ > bœ bœ œ bœ > bœ bœ œ bœ bœ & & ? ∑ Ú œ œœ œ œœ > œ œ ? ∑ Ú bœ œ bœ > œ bœ > bœ bœ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ ˙ œ J œ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ Ó w w œ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ ˙ œ™ œ Ó w w bœ™ œ ˙ Ó = 4 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. A. Hp. beau f ty -22 beau f ty -S. A. Hp. by beau - -24 by beau - -p 5 4 9 8 5 4 9 8 5 4 9 8 5 4 9 8 9 8 3 2 5 4 9 8 3 2 5 4 9 8 3 2 5 4 9 8 3 2 5 4 & & ? & > œ œ œ > œ œ > œœ œœœœ œœ œœ œœ ? & bœ > œ bœ bœ > bœ > bœ > bœ > bœ &&& & œœœœ œœ œœ œœ & & ∑ ? > bœ > œ > bœ œ œ™ œ œ Œ ˙™ b˙ œ <b> ™ œ œ Œ ˙™ b˙ œ <b> ™ œ ˙ bw™ œ <b> ™ œ ˙ w™ œ œ bœ bœ œ bœ = 5 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { ° ¢ { { S. A. Hp. ty -26 ty -f S. A. Hp. 28 f f Hp. mp 31 5 4 9 8 5 4 9 8 5 4 9 8 5 4 9 8 2 2 9 8 2 2 9 8 2 2 9 8 2 2 9 8 4 4 4 4 & & & > œœ œœœœ œœ œœ œœ œœœœ œœ œœ œœ ? & ? bœ bœ > bœ bœ > bœ œ > bœ œ & ∑ ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ ∑ & œœœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœœ œ œœ œœ œœ ? & > bœ bœ bœ œ œ bœ œ bœ bœ bœ bœ bœ & œœœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœœ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ & ? > bœ œ > bœ œ bœ bœ bœ œ œ bœ œ bœ ˙™ ˙ œ™ œ ˙ ˙™ ˙ œ™ œ ˙ Ó Ó = = 6 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. A. Hp. each mp pocorit. atempo 34 each mp pp p pocorit. atempo p S. A. Hp. sun rise - a mf link in the 38 sun rise - a mf link in the mf 4 4 3 2 3 2 2 2 4 4 3 2 3 2 2 2 4 4 3 2 3 2 2 2 4 4 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 & ∑ ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ ∑ & ? bœ bœ œ & & & > ? œœ œ œ ? ∑ > > œ > œ ∑ ˙ ∑ ˙ Œ™ œœ J˙˙ Œ˙˙™ ™ ˙˙ w wbb Œ ‰œœJœ œœœœ œœœ Œ w bw w bw™ ™ w w™ ™ ˙ ˙ Ó ˙ w œ œ ˙ ˙ Ó ˙ w œ œ œœ˙˙™ ™ ‰œ œJ œ œ ww w ™ ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ w w w w™ ™ = 7 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. A. Hp. ladder41 ladderf p S. S.2 A. Hp. divisi thought p by thought mp 45 thought p by thought mp thought p by thought mp mp 4 2 7 8 2 2 5 8 3 2 4 2 7 8 2 2 5 8 3 2 4 2 7 8 2 2 5 8 3 2 4 2 7 8 2 2 5 8 3 2 3 2 2 2 3 4 3 2 2 2 3 4 3 2 2 2 3 4 3 2 2 2 3 4 3 2 2 2 3 4 &∑ ∑ ∑ &∑ ∑ ∑ ? Ú œœ œœ œœ ? Ú > > œ > œ œ > œ œ > œ œ & 1&&? ∑ & œœ > œ > œ ? > ∑ > œ > œ œ œ˙™ w œ ˙™ w ‰ œœ Jœœœ œœœ w ‰œ J ∑ ˙ ˙ ˙ w ˙™ ∑ ˙ ˙ ˙ w ˙™ ∑ ˙ ˙ ˙ w ˙™ Œ ‰ œœ Jœœœ œœœœœ œœœ œ Ó w™ Ó Œ ‰œ J = 8 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. S.2 A. Hp. pp beau f ty - by beauty49 pp beau f ty - by beautypp beau f ty - by beautyf S. S.2 A. Hp. 53 f 2 2 5 4 2 2 7 8 2 2 5 4 2 2 7 8 2 2 5 4 2 2 7 8 2 2 5 4 2 2 7 8 2 2 5 4 2 2 7 8 7 8 9 8 3 2 3 2 7 8 9 8 3 2 3 2 7 8 9 8 3 2 3 2 7 8 9 8 3 2 3 2 7 8 9 8 3 2 3 2 & 1 ∑ & ∑ & ∑ & > & ? ∑ > œ > œ ? ∑ œœ œ œ & 1 ∑ & ∑ & ∑ ? & œœ œ œ œ œ ? > > > > > œ > œ > œ > œ ˙™ ˙™ œ œ œ ˙™ ˙™ ˙™ œ œ œ ˙™ ˙™ ˙™ œ œ œ ˙™ œœ ˙ ˙ ˙˙ ˙ ™ ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙˙ ˙ Œ ˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙™ ™ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ™ ˙™ œ™ ˙ œ™ ˙™ œ™ ˙ œ™ ˙™ œ™ Œ ˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ Œ œ œ œ ˙™ ˙™ = 9 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
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° ¢ { ° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. A. Hp. The pp lad der - the 56 The pp lad der - the p S. A. Hp. back bone - of shimm'ring de mf i - -58 back bone - of shimm'ring de mf i - -mf S. A. Hp. ty pp 60 ty pp 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 4 2 3 2 3 2 4 2 3 2 3 2 4 2 3 2 3 2 4 2 4 2 7 4 3 2 5 4 4 2 7 4 3 2 5 4 4 2 7 4 3 2 5 4 4 2 7 4 3 2 5 4 & tutti & &-? ? & 3 >& 3 >? >? & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ ? > 3 & ? ∑ ∑ ∑ ˙ ˙ ˙™ œ ∑ ˙ ˙ ˙™ œ Œ™ œ j œ œ œ œ ‰ œ j œ œ œ œ œ w w ™ ™ w w ™ ™ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ w ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ w ˙ ‰ œ J œ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ J œ œ œ œ œ w w ™ ™ w w ™ ™ w w w w Œ™ œ Jœ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙™ œ ˙ œ œ™ œjw w w ™ ™ Ó = = 10
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° ¢ { ° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. A. Hp. thought mp by 63 thought mp by pp mp S. A. Hp. thought 66 thought p mp S. A. Hp. beau f ty - by 69 beau f ty - by mf 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ & ? > > > & > > & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ & & > > > ? & ∑ & ∑ & ? > > > > > > ˙™ ˙ ˙™ ˙ #œœ™ ™ œœ jœœœœ œœ #œœ™ ™ œœ jœœœœ œœ #œœ™ ™ œœ j˙˙ œœ ‰ œ J˙ œ Jœ™ ‰ œ Jw ˙ ˙ ™ ™ ˙ ˙ ˙™ ˙ ˙™ ˙ ‰#œœ™ ™ ˙˙ œœ #œœ™ ™ œœ jœœœœœœ#œœ™ ™ œœ jœœœœœœ ˙ ˙ ™ ™ ˙ ˙ ‰ œ œj ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œj œ œ ™ ™ ˙ ˙ ™ ™ ˙™ ˙ ˙™ ˙ ˙™ ˙ ˙™ ˙ #œœ™ ™ œœ j˙˙ œœ Œ™ œj˙ œ œ™ œœ j˙˙ œœ ‰ œœ J˙˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙™ ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ # ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ = = 11 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { { { S. A. Hp. beau ty72 beau tymf Hp. 75 Hp. p rit. 78 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 3 2 5 4 3 2 &∑ &∑ & ? > > > & ? > > > & > ? ˙™ ˙ ˙™ ˙ ˙™ ˙ ˙™ ˙ œœ™ ™ œ œj œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙ œœœœ Œ™ œj˙ œ ˙ ˙ ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ # ˙ ˙ ˙™ ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ œ™ œœ j˙˙ œœ œœ™ ™ œ œj œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙ œœœœ ˙ ˙ # ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ # ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ #˙ Œ™ œj˙ œ œ™ œœ j˙˙ œœ œœ™ ™ œ œj œ œ œ #œ œ œ ˙ ˙™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ # ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ™ ™ ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ = = 12
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° ¢ { ° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. A. Hp. child mp stirring - inthe atempo 81 child mp stirring - inthe atempo pp S. A. Hp. web ofyourmother - do f not be a85 web ofyourmother - do f not be amf S. A. Hp. fraid Old mf man turning to 89 fraid Old mf man turning to f 3 2 2 2 4 2 3 2 2 2 4 2 3 2 2 2 4 2 3 2 2 2 4 2 4 2 3 4 5 4 4 2 3 4 5 4 4 2 3 4 5 4 4 2 3 4 5 4 5 4 2 2 5 4 2 2 5 4 2 2 5 4 2 2 & ∑ ∑& ∑ ∑& U ? U &Ú &Ú & ∑ ? ∑ & ∑ & ∑ & ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ? ∑ ∑ #w œ#˙ œœ w œ ˙ #œœ œ œ#œ ˙ œ ww ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ ww ww w ##w ∏ ∏ ∏ ˙ ˙ # w ww w ww w ww ˙ œ œ œ˙ # ™ Œ œ œ #˙ œ #˙ œ œ œ˙ # ™ Œ #œ œ ˙ œ ww ww Ó ww™ ™ ˙˙™ ™ w ww w ww œ#˙ œœ ˙™ ˙ ˙ ™ ™ ˙ ˙™ Ó #˙ w œ˙ # œ ˙ ˙™ Ó #˙ w œ ˙ œ Œ œ ˙ œ œ™ œ œ J ˙ ˙ w ##w = = 13 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { S. S.2 S.3 A. A.2 A.3 Hp. walkthrough the door, f divisi Do (S1) f not be a94 Do f notbe Do f not walkthrough the door, f divisi Do f(A1) not be aDo f notbe Do f not f 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 & 1 3 & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ & 1 3 & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ œ> ? ∑ ∑ œ œ œ #˙ ˙ ˙ #w Ó #œ œ ˙™ œ Ó #œ œ ˙ Ó Ó #œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ w Ó œ œ ˙™ œ Ó œ œ ˙ Ó Ó œ œ œjœ # ™ ˙ 14 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { S. S.2 S.3 S.4 A. A.2 A.3 A.4 Hp. fraid 97 a fraidbe a fraidDo f not be a fraidfraid a fraidbe a fraidDo f not be a fraid& 1 & & & & 1 & & & & > > ? œ #œ ?œ œ œ œ #œ œ #w™ w™ œ œ #w w™ ˙™ œ #˙ w™ #œ œ ˙™ œ #w™ w™ w™ œ œ w w™ ˙™ œ ˙ w™ œ œ ˙™ œ w™ œ J œ™ ˙ œjœ # ™ ˙ 15 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { S. S.2 S.3 S.4 A. A.2 A.3 A.4 Hp. Do f not be a fraid99 Do f notbe a-fraid Do f not be a-fraid Do f not be aDo f not be a fraidDo f notbe a-fraid Do f not be a-fraid Do f not be a3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 & 1 ∑ & ∑ & ∑ & ∑ ∑ & 1 ∑ & ∑ & ∑ & ∑ ∑ ? > & > > œœœ # œ œ ?œ œ œ œ œœ œ #œ œ ˙™ œ #w™ Ó #œ œ ˙ œ œ #w Ó Ó #œ œ ˙™ œ˙ # #œ œ ˙™ œ œ œ ˙™ œ w™ Ó œ œ˙ œ œ w Ó Ó œ œ ˙™ œ ˙ œ œ ˙™ œ œ J œ™ ˙ œjœ # ™ ˙ œ J œ™ ˙ 16 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { S. S.2 S.3 S.4 A. A.2 A.3 A.4 Hp. tutti f do withconviction not be 102 fraid tutti do f withconviction not be fraid mf mp & 1 ∑ & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ & 1 ∑ & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ & > ? > & #œ œœœ # œ ? œ #œœ œ œ œœ w <#> ™ ˙ ˙ #˙ w <#> ™ w <#> ™ #w™ w™ ˙ ˙ #˙ w™ w™ w™ œjœ # ™ ˙ œ J œ™ ˙ ∑ ∑ 17 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
° ¢ { ° ¢ { S. A. Hp. a fraidpocomenomosso 105 a fraidmp pocomenomosso S. A. Hp. pp rit. 109 pp rit. & & & > ∑ œ œ œœ ? ∑ ∑ #œœ œ œ & ∑ ∑ & ∑ ∑ & œ œ œ œ ?#œ œ œ #œ ˙ <#> w w™ w™ w™ ˙ <#> w w™ w™ w™ œœ # œ w #w w w™ w™ w #w w™ = 18 This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.