It is Morning Senlin Says (Mixed Choir): Mixed Voices (SSATTBB)

Ešenvalds brings a rare combination of lyrical warmth and harmonic depth to this setting of Conrad Aiken's evocative poem. The a cappella texture gives the text room to breathe while the SSAATTBB voicing provides natural opportunities for sectional color and dialogue without forcing the writing into thick, unwieldy chords.

Morning light filtered through careful language. Ešenvalds sets Aiken's meditative poem with harmonic colors that shift like changing light, sometimes luminous, sometimes introspective, creating a sense of quiet awakening and contemplation.

Directors programming sophisticated a cappella repertoire for mixed choirs with solid vocal blend and intonation. This work suits ensembles comfortable navigating contemporary harmonic language and committed to collaborative, text-driven interpretation.

• Shape the phrase contours around the poem's imagery rather than musical barlines; Aiken's language carries its own momentum and the score invites singers to follow the words first.
• Balance the seven vocal lines by thinking of timbral color as much as dynamic level. Upper voices need clarity without hardness; lower voices anchor without muddiness.
• Attend carefully to intonation in the a cappella sections where parallel motion or unexpected harmonic shifts might tempt the ensemble to drift. Mark tuning reference points in rehearsal.

A natural fit for programs exploring contemporary American poetry through music or concerts centered on intimacy and restraint. The 12-page score and a cappella format make it ideal for chamber choral concerts or as a reflective anchor in a longer program.

• Singing sustained a cappella without instrumental support while maintaining tuning and blend
• Interpreting contemporary harmonic language and voice leading across seven parts
• Responding to poetic text as the primary structural and expressive driver
• Balancing seven independent lines while creating unified ensemble sound