Song for Sarajevo - Choral (SATB)

from Songs of Love-“I sing because...“ is the third and final movement of the choral suite Todd’s ‘Songs of Love’ which was commissioned by Elena Sharkova for the Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale in 2012. The haunting and yearning text about love and loss is written by the American poet Nils Peterson after a Greek poem by Maria Polydouri. With an aching melody which starts on upper voices and gradually builds to the whole choir this work features the composer’s characteristic lush vocal harmonies and improvisatory accompaniment. The result is a very emotionally charged piece in which the words and musiccomplement each other greatly. “I sing because...” is featured on Tenebrae’s album ‘Call of Wisdom’.

This song by Judy Collins from 1994 was written for the children of the Bosnian War of the 1990s but has continuing meaning for today's children of conflict. I dream of Peace I dream of flowers on the hill I dream I see my mother smiling When I close my eyes I dream of Peace.