Three versions:

1. choir and orchestra
SATB/SATB choirs, SATTB soli, SSAA/SSAA childrens choirs;
2 flutes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, harp, antiphonal organ, divided string groups

2. a cappella SATB-SATB; SATTB soli

3. choir and chamber ensemble
SATB/SATB choirs, SATTB soli, SSSA/SSAA childrens choirs;
4 vlns, harp, antiphonal organ

 

ee cumming’s in time of daffodils (who know traces the order of flowers as they blossom in spring (daffodils being the earliest bloomers, roses the latest) as a metaphor for seasons in our lives. In our earliest stages – our time of daffodils—we are infants: the goal of living is to grow. There is no “why;” just “how.” In a time of lilacs — adolescence — our waking hours seem less important than our daydreams: what we will become is more apparent than what we are. In later life, there is a richness of roses when we wake up to the beauty life offers, forgetting what might have been (“forgetting if”) and affirming what we have (“remember yes”). Later in life may come the realization that intellect does not hold all the answers, and that the journey is more important than goal (“remember seek, forgetting find”). And lastly, “in a mystery to be,” there is a release from this life, “when time from time shall set us free.” And in that release, as we are forgotten, memories remain in the hearts of those who loved us (“forgetting me, remember me”).

in time of is dedicated to the memory of Jay Blake.

in time of was originally conceived for double choir plus two antiphonal children’s choirs with orchestra which included strings spread around the hall. In this version, it was premiered by Lehigh University Choral Arts at Lehigh University’s Packer Memorial Church in Bethlehem, PA under the direction of the composer in 1995.  A second, a cappella version, was popularized by Chanticleer on their Grammy Award winning CD “Colors of Love.”  The original orchestral version was subsequently scored for chamber ensemble with the original vocal forces and recorded by The Princeton Singers, the American Boychoir and the trebles of Princeton High School under the direction of the composer.  All three versions are available from ECS.

All versions require a reverberant performing space and are best performed antiphonally or in some way surrounding the audience.

in time of

in time of daffodils (who know
the goal of living is to grow)
forgetting why, remember how

in time of lilacs who proclaim
the aim of waking is to dream,
remember so, (forgetting seem)

in time of roses (who amaze
our now and here with paradise)
forgetting if, remember yes

in time of all sweet things beyond
whatever mind may comprehend,
remember seek (forgetting find)

and in a mystery to be
(when time from time shall set us free)
forgetting me, remember me

– ee cummings