Elizabeth Alexander

Seafarer Presswww.seafarerpress.com

SEA-062-05 $2.50

When the Song of theAngels Is Stilled

Howard Thurman

SATB and flute

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and the princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flocks,

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner,

To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among brothers,

To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman

From The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations by Howard Thurman.

© Friends United Press, 2001 edition. Used by permission.

Howard Thurman (1900-1981) spent most of his life engaged in the work of

Christmas. In his early professional life, he was professor of religion and director of

religious life at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, and later was dean of Howard

University. In 1944 he moved to San Francisco to co-found the first integrated,

multi-cultural church in the United States, The Church for the Fellowship of All

Peoples. In 1936 Thurman led the first black delegation to Southern Asia, where he

was profoundly affected by his meeting with Mohandas Gandhi. His 1949 book,

Jesus and the Disinherited, inspired nonviolent civil rights movements in the United

States and throughout the world.

Growing up in the Carolinas and Appalachian Ohio, Elizabeth Alexander gained her

love of language and music from her parents, a minister and a piano teacher. These

twin passions are reflected in her over 100 choral and vocal pieces, which have been

performed by more than 2000 choirs. The recipient of many awards and grants,

including a McKnight Composition Fellowship, she makes her home in Saint Paul,

Minnesota. To learn more about Elizabeth’s music, visit www.seafarerpress.com

The cover art was created for this publication by Jonathan Machen.

Jonathan lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and two young

children. There he manages the Solstice Center LLC, a healing arts

facility. He takes his inspiration from the people around him and the

beauty of the Rocky Mountains and American Southwest. Other

loves include playing with his kids, playing guitar, backpacking,

skiing, bicycling and kayaking.

More of Jonathan’s art can be seen at www.haikutimes.com

(h = 64) Howard Thurman

SATB and flute

copyright 2005, 2010 by Elizabeth Alexander

Elizabeth Alexander

When the Song of the Angels is Stilled

Fl

S

A

T

B

Separate flute part may be downloaded at: www.seafarerpress.com/works/when_the_song_of_the_angels_is_stilled.html

6

Fl

S

A

T

B

p mp

De

pp warmly

o- Glo ri- a,-

De

pp warmly

o- Glo ri- a,-

De

pp warmly

o- Glo ri- a,-

De

pp warmly

o- Glo ri- a,-

for rehearsal only

Glo ri- a- in ex cel- sis,- - -

Glo ri- a- in ex cel- sis,- - -

Glo ri- a- in ex cel- sis,- - -

Glo ri- a- in ex cel- sis,- - -

Seafarer PressSEA-062-05

10 poco rit. a tempo

Fl

S

A

T

B

16

S

A

T

B

p pp

Glo ri- - - a- De o.-

hushed, expectant

When the

Glo ri- - - a- De o.-

hushed, expectant

When the

Glo ri- - - a- De o.-

hushed, expectant

When the

Glo ri- - - a- De o.-

hushed, expectant

When the

songkings

pp (mf 2nd time)

ofand

thethe

anprin

gelsces

--

isare

3

stilled,home,

whenwhen

thethe

songkings

ofand

thethe

anprin

gelsces

--

isare

3

songkings

pp (mf 2nd time)

ofand

thethe

anprin

gelsces

--

isare

3

stilled,home,

whenwhen

thethe

songkings

ofand

thethe

anprin

gelsces

--

isare

3

songkings

pp (mf 2nd time)

ofand

thethe

anprin

gelsces

--

isare

3

stilled,home,

whenwhen

thethe

songkings

ofand

thethe

anprin

gelsces

--

isare

3

song

kings

pp (mf 2nd time)

of

and

the

the

an

prin

gels

ces

-

-

is

are

3stilled,

home,

when

when

the

the

song

kings

of

and

the

the

an

prin

gels

ces

-

-

is

are

3

3 3

3

3

2

19

S

A

T

B

23

Fl

S

A

T

B

stilled,home,

whenwhen

thethe

3

songkings

ofand

thethe

3

anprin

mp ( f 2nd time)

gelsces

--

isare

stilled,home,

thethe

workwork

ofof

ChristChrist

p (mf 2nd time)

masmas

--

bebe

--

stilled,home,

whenwhen

thethe

3

songkings

ofand

thethe

3

anprin

mp ( f 2nd time)

gelsces

--

isare

stilled,home,

thethe

workwork

ofof

ChristChrist

p (mf 2nd time)

masmas

--

bebe

--

stilled,home,

whenwhen

thethe

3

songkings

ofand

thethe

3

anprin

mp ( f 2nd time)

gelsces

--

isare

stilled,home,

thethe

workwork

ofof

ChristChrist

p (mf 2nd time)

masmas

--

bebe

--

stilled,home,

whenwhen

thethe

3

songkings

ofand

thethe

3

anprin

mp ( f 2nd time)

gelsces

--

isare

stilled,home,

thethe

workwork

ofof

ChristChrist

p (mf 2nd time)

masmas

--

bebe

--

3 3

3 3

2nd time only:

f

gins,gins,

WhenWhen

thethe

starshep

inherds-

theare

heaback

vens*with

- istheir

3

gone,flocks,

whenwhen

thethe

starshep

inherds-

theare

heaback

venswith

- istheir

3

gins,gins,

WhenWhen

thethe

starshep

inherds-

theare

heaback

vens*with

- istheir

3

gone,flocks,

whenwhen

thethe

starshep

inherds-

theare

heaback

venswith

- istheir

3

gins,gins,

WhenWhen

thethe

starshep

inherds-

theare

heaback

vens*with

- istheir

3gone,flocks,

whenwhen

thethe

starshep

inherds-

theare

heaback

venswith

- istheir

3

gins,gins,

OhOh

whenwhen

thethe

starshep

inherds-

theare

heaback

vens*with

- istheir

3

gone,flocks,

whenwhen

thethe

starshep

inherds-

theare

heaback

venswith

- istheir

3

33

* Original poem by Howard Thurman reads: "When the star in the sky is gone,"

33

3

27

Fl

S

A

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B

30

Fl

S

A

T

B

gone,flocks,

whenwhen

thethe

3

starshep

inherds-

theare

3

heaback

mp ( f 2nd time)

venswith

- istheir

gone,flocks,

Oh,Oh,

sfz

thethe

gone,flocks,

whenwhen

thethe

3

starshep

inherds-

theare

3

heaback

mp ( f 2nd time)

venswith

- istheir

gone,flocks,

Oh,Oh,

sfz

thethe

gone,flocks,

whenwhen

thethe

3

starshep

inherds-

theare

3

heaback

mp ( f 2nd time)

venswith

- istheir

gone,flocks,

Oh,Oh,

sfz

thethe

gone,flocks,

whenwhen

thethe

3

starshep

inherds-

theare

3mp ( f 2nd time)

heaback

venswith

- istheir

gone,flocks,

Oh,Oh,

sfz

thethe

3 3

3 3

work

mp (both times)

of Christ mas,- the work of Christ mas,- the

work

mp (both times)

of Christ mas,- the work of Christ mas,- the

work

mp (both times)

of Christ mas,- the work of Christ mas,- work of

work,

mp (both times)

the work of Christ mas- the work of

4

Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret & George Alexander, parents B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous

web designer B Scott Bates, poet B Abbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael

deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey,

poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer

B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher,

composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web

designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa,

composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet

B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf

Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven

Stucky, composer/teacher B Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John

Greenleaf Whittier, poet B Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood,

poet B Yehudi Wyner, composer/teacher B Paul Adams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret &

George Alexander, parents B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B

Abbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray

Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet

B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer

B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike,

proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill,

composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher

B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen,

artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald

Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven Stucky, composer/teacher B

Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John Greenleaf Whittier, poet B

Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood, poet B Yehudi Wyner,

composer/teacher B Paul Adams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret & George Alexander, parents

B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B Abbie Betinis,

composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B

Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet

B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet

B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper,

technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet

B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller

B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J.

David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

(YOU KNOW WHY.)

A COMPLETE PERUSAL COPY MAY BE PURCHASED

FROM ELIZABETH ALEXANDER AT

Seafarer PressSeafarer PressSeafarer PressSeafarer Presswww.seafarerpress.com

A LOT OF HARD WORK &CREATIVITY

WENT INTO BRINGING

THIS MUSIC TO YOU...

...AND SOME OF IT

WAS EVEN MINE.

42

Fl

S

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B

47

Fl

S

A

T

B

Both times:

mf

re

mf

build- the na tions,- to

mp dolce

bring peace a mong- bro thers,- To make

re

mf

build- the na tions,- to

mp dolce

bring peace a mong- bro thers,- To make

re

mf

build- the na tions,- to

mp dolce

bring peace a mong- bro thers,- To make

re

mf

build- the na tions,- to

mp dolce

bring peace a mong- bro thers,- - To make

mu sic- in the heart, to make mu sic- in the heart, to make

mu sic- in the heart, to make mu sic- in the heart, to make

mu sic- in the heart, to make mu sic- in the heart, to make

mu sic,- - - - to make mu sic,- - - - to make

6

51

Fl

S

A

T

B

55

Fl

S

A

T

B

1.

mu

f

sic,- - - - - - - - - - when the

mu

f

sic,- - - - - - - - - - when the

mu

f

sic,- - - - - - - - - - when the

mu

f

sic,- - - - - - - - - - when the

p

star is gone, when

mf

the song is stilled, the work of

star in the hea - vens is

3

gone, when

mf

the song of the an gels- is

3

stilled, the work of

star in the hea - vens is3

gone, when

mf

the song of the an gels- is3

stilled, the work of

star is gone, when

mf

the song is stilled, the work of

3 3

7

59

S

A

T

B

63

Fl

S

A

T

B

Christ

mp

mas,- the work be gins,- it be gins- when the

Christ

mp

mas,- the work be gins,- it be gins- when the

Christ

mp

mas,- the work be gins,- it be gins- when the

Christ

mp

mas,- the work be gins,- when the

2.

f

mu sic,- - - - - - - - - when the

mu

f

sic,- - - - - - - - - when the

mu

f

sic,- - - - - - - - -when the

mu

f

sic,- - - - - - - - - when the

8

67

Fl

S

A

T

B

71

poco rit.

meno mossoFl

S

A

T

B

shep herds- are back, when the kings are home, when the

shep herds- are back with their

3

flocks, when the kings and the prin ces- are

3

home, when the

shep herds- are back with their3

flocks, when the kings and the prin ces- are3

home, when the

shep herds- are back, when the kings are home, when the

3 3

mp

star is gone, when the song is stilled,

mp

the

pp

star in the hea vens- is

3

gone, when the song is stilled,

mp

the

pp

star in the hea vens- is3

gone, when the song of the an gels- is3

stilled,

mp

the

pp

star is gone, when the song of the an gels- is

3stilled,

mp

the

pp

3

3

9

76

Fl

S

A

T

B

Separate flute part may be downloaded at: www.seafarerpress.com/works/when_the_song_of_the_angels_is_stilled.html

82

Fl

S

A

T

B

mp

work of Christ mas,- the work be gins,- be -

work of Christ mas,- the work be gins,- it be gins,- it be -

work of Christ mas,- the work be gins,- be gins,- be -

work of Christ mas,- the work be gins,-

poco rit., freely

gins,

poco rit.

gins, it be gins.

poco rit.

-

gins, be gins.

poco rit.

-

be gins.

poco rit.

-

10