Footprints Choral Suite (Instrumental Parts)

Other Info: Commissioned by the St George's Singers in 2012 the jazz choral suite Footprints was inspired by Mary Stevenson's poem Footprints in the Sand. The original poem has a clear religious tone but the choral suite draws on the more universal elements also present in the original text.  The story of the footsteps is about friendship and responsibility and reaching out, and in that sense has meaning for everyone whether religious or otherwise. Will Todd's reflective text explores how we need, and reach for, friendship amidst the vastness, power and timelessness of the universe. Recorded in 2014 by the Wellensian Consort, conducted by Christopher Finch, Footprints Choral Suite is available on the album Footprints (TYA006)

The Tide  (4 minutes 45 seconds)
Footprints (5 minutes 15 seconds)
Sun and Moon (2 minutes 45 seconds)

FOOTPRINTS CHORAL SUITE lyrics by Will Todd

THE TIDE
Through endless seasons
And unending years
Moving for ever.
Circling Tide,
Endless.
Away and back.
Eternal pattern of our destiny:
The Tide.
I am washed forever by the tide.
Through calm and through the storm.

FOOTPRINTS
Looking back on the shining sand,
Reaching through time.
Years went by so soon
And are lives are gone into the distance:
Footprints.
Were you there beside me?
Were you there in the darkest hour?
When I stumbled and fell,
When the rain washed over me, were you near me?
Were you there?
In my need, come to me.
Guide my way and comfort me.
I am tired and lonely
When I tremble hold me.
Walk with me all my days.
Guide my steps through endless ways.
Carry me always.
O Friend.
Now I see you holding me.
You were always with me.
And our footprints are together into the distance.
Sun and Moon

O SUN AND MOON
We are your children
And I will travel with you all my earthly days.
Universe of Light give us Life.
O moon and Sun
We are your children.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND by Mary Stevenson
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
Why, when I needed you most,
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."