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Arise, My Love importance of the arts from an ear- by the Renaissance City Women’s
Music by Joan Szymko ly age. She received a B.S. in Music and Men’s Choirs and the Indianap-
Text adapted from Education from the University of olis Women’s and Men’s Choruses
The Song of Solomon 2:10-12 Illinois (Urbana). The years of com- as a gift to GALA Choruses at the
SSA, voices and piano posing and arranging that followed Festival VIIe International in Mon-
Santa Barbara Music were bent toward women’s and treal in 2004. The piece was com-
Publishing Company church choirs and she later contin- missioned to celebrate love. What
Publisher ID: SBMP553 ued her education at the University better place to fi nd poetry about love
Diffi culty: Easy/Moderate of Washington focusing on composi- than The Song of Solomon? Joan
Duration: 3:45 tion. Collaboration with theatre has has adapted Song of Solomon 2:10-
https://youtu.be/Ia9ZcTQXs5k brought diversity to her composing 12 to say that love is universal. “Love
and a focus on breaking the “fourth is love is love.” ALL couples desire
wall” that exists between performers the blessing of the “Divine One.”
and their audience. Each phrase of the text was chosen
This “fourth wall” impedes the with purpose and has signifi cance
message, and it is Joan’s goal to pres- in the LGBTQ community that can
Arise, My Love possesses all of the ent beauty to the world in text and be found in her extended program
things that are characteristic of an singing particularly through unique notes. The tune is At the River, a tradi-
outstanding choral work. A memo- relationships that are unhindered tional hymn tune.
rable melody, rhythmically intricate, by frivolous and empty “calories.” Its shifting compound meters,
harmony achieved through multiple “I am drawn to texts that invoke duple against triple and call and re-
avenues, timbre that makes us love divine grace, speak to the universal sponse are pedagogically rich. The
women’s choirs, dynamics that en- yearning for good and the nurture piano accompaniment will satisfy
hance the text, and a text that is a of a compassionate heart,” says the pianist with lilting rhythms that
power for good. Joan. She is a force in the realm of fall easily into the hands. It is a rare
Joan Szymko has a catalog of music for women and her work has piece that the accompaniment could
more than 100 published choral been performed around the world, stand alone and yet it is not so fussy
works. The youngest of fi ve, grow- but most notably it has been present that it takes away from the texture
ing up in Chicago, her Catholic at every national ACDA conference of the women’s voices. Editorial
home was based on education and since 2003. markings are numerous and specifi c.
faith with an understanding of the Arise, My Love was commissioned A rhapsodic piano interlude guides

CHORAL JOURNAL April 2021 Volume 61 Number 9 83