Purchase this piece for performance: bit.ly/latenovember

Light of Late November sets Barbara Crooker’s poem Praise Song, which describes in vivid detail the simple beauty of an autumn evening. This piece was premiered by The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists on May 31, 2014 in St. Paul, MN.

Text:
Praise the light of late November, 
the thin sunlight that goes deep in the bones.
Praise the crows chattering in the oak trees;
though they are clothed in night, they do not 
despair.  Praise what little there’s left:  
the small boats of milkweed pods, husks, hulls, 
shells, the architecture of trees.  Praise the meadow
of dried weeds:  yarrow, goldenrod, chicory,
the remains of summer.  Praise the blue sky
that hasn’t cracked yet.  Praise the sun slipping down
behind the beechnuts, praise the quilt of leaves
that covers the grass:  Scarlet Oak, Sweet Gum,
Sugar Maple.  Though darkness gathers, praise our crazy
fallen world; it’s all we have, and it’s never enough.

—Barbara Crooker

Light Of Late November

Hailed by the New York Times for her "soaring melodies and beguiling harmonies," Dale Trumbore has received commissions, performances and awards from organizations including ACDA, ACME, Inscape Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists and VocalEssence. Learn more about her music at daletrumbore.com.