Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Gwyneth Walker

The Day Is Done

Longfellow's poem, The Day is Done, speaks of evening as the time when poetry and music come alive and soothe the cares of day. The musical setting presents the opening lyrics in the children's voices: The day is done, and the darkness falls from the wings of night. These phrases, or slight variations thereof, return as refrains throughout the song. The verses alternate between the men's and women's voices, with the children interjecting refrains or offering commentary in the background. Finally, the children interrupt the SATB dialogue with exclamations of a song! a song! a song! These lead to the climax of the song, given to the children's chorus, singing And the nightshall be filled with music. All voices then join together in celebration: Our song shall fill the night. The accompaniment (originally composed for piano, later adapted for flute, strings, and percussion) delights in text-setting with sparkling arpeggios depicting the celestial harmonies, and filigree patterns for the star-filled night sky. Duration: 5:00