The Mind That Lives (Vocal Score)

£5.00

Scored for: SATB adult choir, children’s choir and organ
Level: Moderate
Duration: 8 minutes

Other Info:  The Mind That Lives is a secular anthem for SATB choir, youth choir and organ, commissioned by Richard Pearce for The Waverley Singers in 2013 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of William Cobbett.  The words combine original text by William Cobbett with text by the composer.  The work was first performed at St Thomas on the Bourne in Farnham on 15 June 2013.

Will Todd writes:

The work opens with an energetic fanfare on solo organ, a depiction of Cobbett’s restless and energetic life. The main chorus then enters with strong chords using original Cobbett text and the turbulence continues, finally coming to rest on the phrase ‘Happiness is in the mind – it is the mind that lives’.  The second section begins with the children’s choir
.  Here the singers evoke a plea for strength within a frail existence - perhaps echoing Cobbett’s hopes
 for us from ‘history’, linking the work of Cobbett in his own time to the many struggles of society we still face today.  The text is my own – but also quotes the optimistic words of Cobbett ‘You never know what you can do till you try’. The final section returns to the energetic music of the opening and reiterates ‘it is the mind that lives’.”

The Cobbett quotations in the piece
 are from several different collections of his writing. They are chosen to give an 'impression' of his irrepressible spirit.

'As to the power which money gives, it is that of brute force.  It is the power of the bludgeon and the bayonet, and of the bribed press, tongue and pen.'

'Happiness, or misery, is in the mind. It is the mind that lives.'

'You never know what you can do till you try.' 

'Respect goodness, find it where you may.'

WILLIAM COBBETT. pamphleteer, journalist, politician and farmer 1763 - 1835

Additional information

Details

Vocal Score: ISMN 9790570702800
Catalogue Number: TP702800
Pages: 22