Anthony Bernarducci

Crossing the Bar

Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 1892) wrote Crossing the Bar in 1889, only a few years before his death. Although it was not his last poem, he requested that Crossing the Bar appear as the final poem in all collections of his work. This poem describes a person not only at peace, but also perhaps awaiting the time of eternal rest and peace. The journey begins at sunset in a minor mode and finishes in the relative major after having crossed the bar. Both the first C minor chord and the final E-flat major chord have an added F-natural meant to represent the initial call which has guided the protagonist's journey toward seeing his pilot face to face.