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Joan Szymko

Joan Szymko is widely regarded as an outstanding composer of choral music in America today. With a catalog of over 100 choral works in print, her music is sung regularly at choral festivals and competitions across North America and abroad and for nearly two decades has been heard on stage or in sessions at every...

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Joan Szymko Music

Listen Closely

Name: Listen Closely
SKU: JS-044
Availability: InStock

Joan Szymko

An exploration of “Buddha nature” and of a core Buddhist scripture, the Heart Sutra.

fall, secular, spring, summer, winter

Difficulty: 3

JS-044

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SSAA, Sop. solo, piano

Songwriter Steven Walter’s tender song, “Listen Closely” is an exploration of “Buddha nature” and of a core Buddhist scripture, the Heart Sutra. The arrangement was written for Aurora Chorus.

Text

There is a song only the heart can hear, listen closely
Older than time yet fresh as the
fragrance of a flower is this melody
Poets and lovers have spoken of the
song; such sweet despair
Reach for this and it’s closer than
your hand—let go and it’s there

And the music, such sweet music
suddenly the music is everywhere
Sing the mountain, Sing the rising Sun
Sing the flowing river in the valley just beyond
The mystery has no ending, it’s just goes on and on
Sing until the singer is the song

gate, gate, para gate,
parasam gate, bodhisattva svaha

Friend, I know that you can hear this song
I see the melody in your eyes.
I needn’t know your name,the song it is the same
May you always hear this music
May your hearts be filled with music
May all hearts hear this music and
our voices fill the skies

Sing the mountain, Sing the rising Sun
Sing  the flowing river in the valley
just beyond The mystery has no
ending, it’s just goes on and on
Sing until the singer is the song

gate, gate, para gate,
parasam gate, bodhisattva svaha

– Steven Walter

$2.25 per licensed PDF