Gwyneth Walker

Every Night (When the Sun Goes Down)

for SATB Chorus (1996)

Return to Gwyneth Walker Music Catalog

Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of a performance of this work by the American Repertory Singers, Leo Nestor, conductor.
Listen to a RealAudio (G2) stream of a performance of this work by the Orlando Chorale, Gregory Ruffer, conductor.
(a CD recording is available on "Central Florida in Concert" from WMFE Radio)

Download an MP3 file of a performance of this work by the American Repertory Singers, Leo Nestor, conductor.
Download an MP3 file of a performance of this work by the Mansfield University Concert Choir, Peggy Dettwiler, conductor.

Download a PDF file of the choral score of this composition. For perusal only -- not printable.


(First photograph of Gwyneth Walker and the "Fidelio" chorus of Phillips Academy, Andover after a performance to celebrate the inauguration of Andover's capital capital campaign; Second photograph of the Thetford Chamber Singers)

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Commissioned by the Thetford Chamber Singers, Thetford, VT, in memory of Diana Grimo, a friend and accompanist of the Chamber Singers.

This arrangement of the traditional Appalachian song, Every Night, When the Sun Goes Down, focuses on the transcendence of faith over sorrow and of peace (through death) over suffering and pain:

            True love, don't weep or mourn for me.
            The Lord has come to set me free.

Cover

A new verse is added at the end:

            And when I rise up in the sky,
            If you look up quickly,
            You will see me passing by.
            On wings of silver, I will fly.

During this verse, the listener might hear a fluttering of wings ("la-la"s) from within the choral texture. This is to symbolize the spirit of a bird hovering close by.

Notes by the composer

Photograph of Thretford Chamber Singers