VocalEssence Ensemble Singers

Commissioned by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, The Crossing, and VocalEssence, whose support of this work was made possible by Linda and Jack Hoeschler, who wish to honor Kay and Mike McCarthy, legendary supporters of composers near and far.

Voted, that the earth is the Lord’s
and the fullness thereof;
voted, that the earth is given to the Saints
voted, that we are the Saints.
—Resolution from a town meeting in Milford, CT, 1640

II.
On the last day of the world
I would want to plant a tree
what for
not for the fruit
the tree that bears the fruit
is not the one that was planted
I want the tree that stands
in the earth for the first time
with the sun already
going down
and the water
touching its roots
in the earth full of the dead
and the clouds passing one by one
over its leaves
—W.S. Merwin

III.
Grass that was moving found all shades of brown,
moved them along, flowed autumn away
galloping southward where summer had gone.
And that was the morning someone’s heart stopped
and all became still. A girl said, “Forever?”
And the grass: “Yes. Forever.” While the sky—
The sky—the sky—the sky.
—William Stafford