To Daffodils

(SATB choir, piano)

Program Notes

The haunting melody and almost Brahmsian piano accompaniment of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ (1872–1958) early vocal solo, “To Daffodils” (1905) served as a recurring counterpoint to my life from when I first heard the composition until the fall of 2019, but I never knew why. I just knew I was intensely attracted to the work, though I am certainly not a soloist.

            The setting of Robert Herrick’s (1591–1674) eponymous poem reflects the gentle poignancy of the text’s reflection on untimely loss and the transient nature of the world. It was in anticipation of such an untimely loss that I found inspiration for “what to do” with “To Daffodils.” A young colleague and friend of mine, who had a young daughter and loving husband, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and entered hospice. Catalyzed by her impending death, I arranged “To Daffodils” for SATB choir, retaining the melody and piano part as Vaughan Williams had written it. When I shared it with her, Kristin replied, “Thank you so much for this gift! I have listened to this beautiful piece multiple times in the last days. Just gorgeous 🥰 And your sentiment of giving music to me. I am humbled and inspired. XOXO, Kristin” She died a few days later.

To Daffodils [PDF]

Fair Daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon;
As yet the early-rising sun
Has not attain'd his noon.
Stay, stay,
Until the hasting day
Has run
But to the even-song;
And, having pray'd together, we
Will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you,
We have as short a spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay,
As you, or anything.
We die
As your hours do, and dry
Away,
Like to the summer's rain;
Or as the pearls of morning's dew,
Ne'er to be found again.

Robert Herrick (1591-1674)