: Typically performed by SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) choirs, it requires immense breath control and "straight tone" singing to achieve its otherworldly texture.
To understand the music, you must first understand the text. Originally, Eric Whitacre set out to compose a piece for the late, great conductor Robert Scholz. Whitacre had initially set a text by Robert Frost, titled "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." However, after completing the music, Whitacre learned that the Frost estate had stringent restrictions and would not grant permission for the text to be used. sleep+eric+whitacre+pdf
The music and lyrics explore the "liminal" state between being awake and asleep, using swelling dynamics and word-painting to mirror the feeling of limbs becoming "made of lead" as the mind takes flight. : Typically performed by SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor,
The piece by Eric Whitacre is a renowned choral work originally set to Robert Frost's poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening , but later re-set to original lyrics by Charles Anthony Silvestri due to copyright issues. 📄 Key PDF Resources Whitacre had initially set a text by Robert
The PDFs contain the following lyrics: