Description

 

Voicing - SSAATTBB Chorus with optional soprano solo, a cappella

Level - Easy-Intermediate

Language - English

Duration - 2:30

Category - Sacred, Love, Union 

 

Three Strands comes from a larger set entitled the Four Wedding Songs which was dedicated as a wedding gift to Stephen and Stacey Squier on the eve of their wedding on July 29th, 2010. The four movements of the work were inspired by the tradition to give a bride “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” with each movement in the piece representing these.

 

This text, taken from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, is a popular biblical text used at weddings. Being an ancient biblical passage, it worked perfectly as this piece's "something old". The imagery of a cord of three strands is introduced in the opening line as the upper three voices fall from the unison melody into warm, resonant chords. Additionally, the tight, twisted clusters throughout the movement also display the tightly knit union described in the text. Several isolated voices occasionally sing alone and exposed but always fall back into the homophonic chordal passaes. These patterns continue until the piece reaches it's final straining suspension which resolves unbroken.

 

Text

From Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

 

Two are better than one

Because they have a good return for their work

If one falls down

His friend can help him up

If two lie down together

They will keep warm

How can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpow'red

Two can defend themselves

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken