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about

Allan Gilliland (Edmonton, Alta. / Alb.)
There Is a Sound, 2016
Text / Texte : Rayanne Doucet, I Hear Winter
For unaccompanied mixed choir. Commissioned by Choral Canada for the 2016 National Youth Choir of Canada. In manuscript from the composer. 

This piece is a rhythmic celebration of the coldest days of the year. With lines that play on contradictions such as “deafening silence” and “snow fort architecture,” Gilliland’s evocative setting wonderfully captures the spirit of the poem and the many outdoor activities and images
of Canada. 

Pour chœur mixte non accompagné. Commandé par Canada Choral pour le Chœur des jeunes du Canada de 2016. En manuscrit du compositeur.

Cette pièce est une célébration rythmée des jours les plus froids de l’année. Avec des lignes qui jouent sur des contradictions telles que le « bruit assourdissant dans le silence », l’arrangement animé d’Allan Gilliland saisit à merveille l’esprit du poème et les nombreuses activités et images de plein air du Canada. 

lyrics

I hear winter.
There is a sound winter carries on the wind.
And it is deafening in the silence
of this frozen season.

There is a sound to frost as it brushes my fingers.
There is a sound to soil as it burrows in
and succumbs to the snow that falls from above.
There is a sound to sun as it touches your skin.
Crisp, alert; ready for rebirth.

I hear winter hunch her shoulders
And curl into night.
I listen to trees as they groan
under the weight of the snow,
and sigh into the depth of winter.
I can hear willows talk while
turning from young green teenager
to Grandfather in his rocking chair.
Leafless branches shaking gnarled fingers
into the cold.

I hear human sounds.
Gortex jackets rubbing on Gortex ski pants.
Snowball battle cries.
Toboggan collisions.
Crunching boots on frigid ground.
Winter hearts beating loudly;
Taking cues from converted willows,
and two stepping with Old Man Winter.

I hear the ski hill roaring out his glory
in tune with snowboarders on his back.
I hear children building snow forts;
mini architects directing skyscrapers.
I hear parents’ fingers squeaking on chocolate cups.

There is a sound to air tightening our skin,
There is a sound as icicles form
around the fog of your breath
There is sound to winter as it inhales.

J’entends l’hiver.
Il porte un bruit dans le vent,
un bruit assourdissant dans le silence
de cette saison gelée.

Le givre crépite sur les doigts.
La neige creuse dans le sol.
La chaleur du soleil caresse la peau.
Attention! tout se ranime.

J’entends l’hiver se hausser les épaules
et se replier dans la nuit.
Les arbres gémissent sous la neige
et soupirent en plein hiver.
Les saules bavardent comme des adolescents en herbe, puis les voilà devenus grands-pères revenant sur leur jeunesse.
Des branches sans feuilles secouent leurs doigts noueux dans le froid.

J’entends des sons humains.
Des habits de ski se frottent.
Des batailles de neige se déclenchent.
Des luges se heurtent.
Des bottes craquent le sol glacial.
Les cœurs d’hiver battent fort.
On prend conseil des saules vieillis,
et on tient compagnie de bonhomme hiver.

La montagne s’écrit de gloire en harmonie
avec les planchistes glissant sur son dos.
Les enfants dressent des forts de neige;
les jeunes architectes montent des gratte-ciel.
J’entends les doigts des parents frotter leurs tasses de chocolat chaud.

L’air fait du bruit quand il resserre la peau.
Les glaçons se forment par la vapeur
de votre haleine.
L’hiver inspire et s’anime.

credits

from Seasons of Life and Landscape, released October 25, 2019
Conducted by / Dirigé par Julia Davids

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Canadian Chamber Choir

The Canadian Chamber Choir is a 24-voice professional choral ensemble made up of singers from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Since 1999, we have been ardent champions of Canadian choral music, and almost exclusively perform repertoire by Canadian composers. ... more

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