Invitation to Love
SSA choir, piano
Choral Art Song
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The text of Paul Laurence Dunbar invites Love no matter what the circumstances may be. After tuneful melodies and imitation, an aleatoric section at the end allows the choir to welcome Love.
“The gorgeous setting of the beautiful poem by Paul Dunbar by Marques Garrett echoes the beauty of the poem. With the flowing, complementary piano part, each of the voice parts is highlighted and interesting, creating a beautiful composition that is as satisfying to sing as to hear. The composition begins with an a cappella invitation, repeating the invitation to “come,” which is also repeated throughout the poem. Through lush harmonic language, interesting changes of texture, and a small aleatoric section, Garrett has composed a setting that reflects both the beauty and the depth of Dunbar’s text.”
Come when the nights are bright with stars
Or when the moon is mellow;
Come when the sun his golden bars
Drops on the hay-field yellow.
Come in the twilight soft and gray,
Come in the night or come in the day,
Come, O love, whene’er you may,
And you are welcome, welcome.
You are sweet, O Love, dear Love,
You are soft as the nesting dove.
Come to my heart and bring it rest
As the bird flies home to its welcome nest.
Come when my heart is full of grief
Or when my heart is merry;
Come with the falling of the leaf
Or with the redd’ning cherry.
Come when the year’s first blossom blows,
Come when the summer gleams and glows,
Come with the winter’s drifting snows,
And you are welcome, welcome.
- Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)