Inspired by and dedicated to the memory of Christopher Galdi

Windshine

Words and music by Pamela J. Marshall

Program notes

I’d wanted to send a carol to the Welcome Christmas! contest for several years, because carols as a genre, especially traditional but unfamiliar ones, interest me very much. I’ve put together several collections of seldom heard Appalachian carols, sets for orchestra and a collection for horns and voice for performing in the Boston subway. Some of my “discoveries” may be more popular in other parts of the country, but they seemed fresh and new to my northern ears.

The first hurdle was to find an appropriate text. I wanted something simple and direct, even whimsical. When my young nephew made a casual reference to wind shining, I thought he was onto something. Later I found more phrases around that idea and finally had enough words to build a carol.

The carol itself combines the choral parts with the cello in several roles: a supportive bass, a free-ranging caller with elaborate, slightly bluesy phrases eliciting the choral response, and an ostinato that propels the verses forward. The choral parts are mainly modal, chordal, and diatonic, but they slip into lusher 7th chords and contrapuntal moments, particularly at the climax.

Since our shared moment of inspiration, my nephew Chris lived for three years with and finally died of a brain tumor. I hope this music captures a combination of the whimsical and serious that are some of my memories of him.

Windshine is recorded on the ERMMedia CD “Holidays of the New Era” by Concert Choir KVIV in Kiev, conducted by Robert Ian Winstin.

Text

1.
Windshine, peaceful night, ooh.

Merry we go into night.
Winter winds shine cheeks like cherries.
Winter stars_ twink and blink.

Winter winds shine cheeks like cherries.
Windshine, peaceful winter night.
Merry we go out singing in the winter night.

Winter stars, frozen stars, twink and blink,
While winter wind rubs cheeks to a shining cherry…

2.
Windshine…
 
Merry we sing in the night.
Eyes shine bright in orange lampglow.
Frozen wind blows silv’ry white.
While moon glow sifts through wind-blown snow.

3.
Windshine…

Frozen stillness is the night.
Sing of peace so it may happen.
Moon and stars, quiet light.
Oh, hear the voices of the world sing of peace everlasting.
Hear our voices sing of peace everlasting.

Peace be everlasting.