THREE SONGS FOR THE DAY OF THE DEAD were commissioned by the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (Houston, TX) for their annual concert to celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The first two songs, As She Looked Around (2012) and Death Goes Before Me (2013), were written for bass-baritone Timothy Jones, and the last song, Exultation (2011), was written for soprano Karol Bennett and arranged for bass-baritone for this cycle.

A version of this work scored for baritone, clarinet, violin, and cello is also available.

Three Songs for the Day of the Dead (2011-13)

THREE SONGS FOR THE DAY OF THE DEAD were commissioned by the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (Houston, TX) for their annual concert to celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The first two songs, As She Looked Around (2012) and Death Goes Before Me (2013), were written for bass-baritone Timothy Jones, and the last song, Exultation (2011), was written for soprano Karol Bennett and arranged for bass-baritone for this cycle. A version of this work scored for baritone, clarinet, violin, and cello is also available.


TEXTS – Three Songs for the Day of the Dead

I. As She Looked Around (1847) – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
an excerpt from Part II, section 5 of “Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie”

And, with light in her looks, she entered the chambers of sickness.
Many a languid head, upraised as Evangeline entered,
To gaze while she passed, for her presence
Fell on their hearts like a ray of the sun on the walls of a prison.
And, as she looked around, she saw how Death, the consoler,
Laying his hand upon many a heart, had healed it forever.

II. Death Goes before Me (1920) – Yvor Winters (1900-1968)

Death goes before me on his hands and knees,
And we go down among the bending trees.
Weeping I go, and no man gives me ease
I am that strange thing that each strange eye sees;
Eyes of the silence, and all life an eye,
Turn in the wind; and always I walk by.
Too still I go, and all things go from me
As down far autumn beaches a man runs to the sea.
My hands are cold, my lips are thin and dumb.
Stillness is like the beating of a drum.

III. Exultation (1860) – Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Exultation is the going
Of an inland soul to sea,
Past the houses, past the headlands,
Into deep eternity!
Bred as we, among the mountains,
Can the sailor understand
The devine intoxication
Of the first league out from land?

Three Songs for the Day of the Dead - III. Exultation (text: Emily Dickinson)

Three Songs for the Day of the Dead - II. Death Goes Before Me (text: Yvor Winters)

Three Songs for the Day of the Dead - I. As She Looked Around (text: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

The innovative and highly energetic music of Rob Smith is frequently performed throughout the United States and abroad. He is an Associate Professor of Music Composition and director of the AURA Contemporary Ensemble at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music.  Boosey & Hawkes, Carl Fischer, Southern Music, C-Alan Publications, and Skitter Music Publications publish his music.

Three Songs for the Day of the Dead - III. Exultation (text: Emily Dickinson)

Rob Smith, composer