Stars Above, Earth Below

'Leaves' by Sara Teasdale (E)

Stars Above, Earth Below is a hopeful and reflective setting of the poem Leaves by Sara Teasdale (1884-1933). The piece begins with celestial, descending lines across the vocal parts to represent each falling leaf as, 'one by one, like leaves from a tree, all my faiths have forsaken me.' The piece then moves from reflection to revelation as the music opens out, looking up to the stars and down to the earth, observing the beauty of the natural world around us. The work is introspective, lamenting over the loss of the 'leaves I knew', but it ultimately turns into understated promise as the 'little leaves that die, have left me room to see the sky' depicting transformation through loss, from one season to the next. The piece returns to the celestial, ethereal falling lines at its conclusion, expressing appreciation for the beauty of the stars above, earth below.’

Grace-Evangeline Mason - 2019