Work

Programme Note

Although the title comes from the hymn All People That On Earth Do Dwell, this work is more concerned with the pleasures and pitfalls of aging, than with piety. The texts are from a collection of writings (both poetry and prose) associated with each age from birth to 99 years old. The selection I made was purely of those items which appealed to me personally – some are humorous, others more serious, some cynical whereas others contain wisdom.

From Age to Age Endure was commissioned by Auckland Youth Choir, and is affectionately dedicated to them and their conductor at the time, Brigid McLafferty. I was asked to write a work with jazz influences, and although not a great jazz fancier, I hope I have created a work which is fun to sing and enjoyable to listen to. The work is scored for solo soprano, SATB choir and small ensemble (or piano duet).

David Hamilton

Text Note:

1. Stevie Smith
2. from "The Temperance Orator and Reader" (19th century)
3. Hugh Kingsmill, parodying A.E. Housman. "The Dawn's Delay" 1924
4. Samuel Johnson
5. Ogden Nash, from "Collected Verse" 1961
6. Rudyard Kipling, from "Departmental Ditties" 1885
7. With aologies to Lennon and McCartney
8. from the Bible
9. Tennyson in 1892 - shortly before his death
10. Frank Buxton, former editor of the Boston Herald, "At Ninety-Six" 1973
11. Epitaph to Mrs Freland, in Edwelton churchyard, Nottinghamshire, 1741

Commissioned:

Commissioned by Auckland Youth Choir

Difficulty:

Advanced

Influences:

• Age
• Old Age

Dedication:

To Auckland Youth Choir and conductor Brigid McLafferty

Related Works

Performance History

	25 May 2008	performed by the Whangarei Choral Society, conducted by Virginia Hill
	09 Aug 2010	Epitaph to Mrs Freland was performed by the Macleans College Choir in a Recital session for the 2010 BIG SING National Finale Festival Epitaph to Mrs Freland only