Shop for Music
About the Composer
Martha Hill Duncan
Graphite Publishing
Grey Rocks and Greyer Seas
A jazz-inspired, romantic and touching song of love lost.
voice, piano
This jazz-inspired, romantic and touching song of love lost is set against the backdrop of the freely moving sea. Twists and turns in the tonality make for some exciting and tender moments that add to the bittersweet mood.
“Grey Rocks and Greyer Seas” won an Honorable Mention in the 2005 Diana Barnhart American Song Competition.
Composer’s Notes
My inspiration for Singing in the Northland began in 1998 when my daughter Claire was about twelve years old. Her voice teacher, Dr. Nadia Izbitskaya, lamented the lack of expressive contemporary vocal music for young singers and presented me with the challenge of writing for my own daughter. As a transplanted Texan, living in Canada, I decided to concentrate on Canadian poetry and the first song I wrote was “Quiet,” with poetry by Marjorie Pickthall. The others in the collection followed over the years as my daughter grew up and continued singing. This collection is dedicated to Claire for her patience, humour, insights and moreover, her beautiful and expressive voice.
Text
Grey rocks, and greyer seas,
And surf along the shore—
And in my heart a name
My lips shall speak no more.
The high and lonely hills
Endure the darkening year—
And in my heart endure
A memory and a tear.
Across the tide a sail
That tosses, and is gone—
And in my heart the kiss
That longing dreams upon.
Grey rocks, and greyer sea,
And surf along the shore—
And in my heart the face
That I shall see no more.
– Charles G.D. Roberts (1860-1943)
$3.50 per licensed PDF
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.