"On Life’s Dividing Sea" [Rhiannon Randle]

"On Life’s Dividing Sea" [Rhiannon Randle]

First line of lyrics: Two gazed into a pool

Randle, Rhiannon; music (English, born 1993)

Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)

2015 [copyright] [publication]

London: Stainer & Bell

genre: song|choral music

chorus: SATB voices with divisi

instrumentation: a cappella|piano (for rehearsal only)

initial sharps/flats: no sharps or flats

initial time signature: 4/4

origin: United Kingdom

female composer

English

Rossetti poem(s): "An Echo from Willowwood"

Composition history: "Greatly admiring the poetry of Christina Rossetti, and in particular the elegance and poignancy of her sonnet ‘An Echo from Willow-Wood’, the composer initially wrote this work as the second of a group of three anthems entitled Echoes from Willow Wood, exploring aspects of hope and despair in love. These are indeed powerful themes throughout Rossetti’s oeuvre, and there was a strong creative tension here with another text selected for the collection, her much anthologised ‘A Birthday’, which is brimming with hope and joy at the prospect of love. By contrast, in On Life’s Dividing Sea the poet tugs vainly at the heart-strings of hope and concludes in dejection. Taking its title from line 8 of the poem, the setting focuses on imagery of the sea, an emblem which inspired many of the textures of the central section. Cluster chords, more lyrical gestures, and suggestions of quasi-Purcellian cadences convey a message of youthful, innocent desire being torn apart, while maintaining Rossetti’s poised Victorian turn of phrase" ("Randle, Rhiannon: On Life’s Dividing Sea").

Tempo markings: "Gentle, lulling"; quarter note = 78

Format 1: musical score

9 pages

Other data reference(s): "Randle, Rhiannon: On Life’s Dividing Sea." Stainer & Bell, https://stainer.co.uk/shop/cn20/. Accessed 26 November 2020.

Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa

This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Randle, Rhiannon: On Life’s Dividing Sea." Stainer & Bell, https://stainer.co.uk/shop/cn20/. Accessed 17 December 2020.

Record: CRM-echowillowwood-randle

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