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Joan Szymko
Joan Szymko Music
River (SSAA)
The tension breaks with a single hopeful voice— a call to action.
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River
SSAA, piano
Commissioned by the Cincinnati Children’s Choir, River is an urgent call for action and a poignant celebration of new leadership as humanity faces an unknown future on Earth, our only home.
CCC’s mission is Building Tomorrow’s Leaders, one Voice at a Time. I hoped to create a new work that related to this mission and to the lives of the singers. As the threat of climate change accelerates, we all— young people in particular face an uncertain future together on Earth. The opening theme of “River” on the words, “There is a river now flowing fast, flowing very fast” develops with ever growing urgency by means of texture and key changes while accompanied by an unrelenting piano groove. The tension breaks with a single hopeful voice— a call to action. The full chorus joins in and “River” flows into a celebration of empowered community.
Text
There is a river now flowing very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel that they are being torn apart.
There is a river now flowing very fast.
I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And because I can’t do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
What I can do, I should do.
And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.
Let go! Let go of the shore!
Push off into the middle of the river.
See who is there with you and celebrate!
We are the ones we have been waiting for.
– Native American Elder(s) circa 2000, Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909); text adapted by Joan Szymko
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