Performed by Janice Porter, soprano and Gregory Theisen, piano

Category:

Silent Tears

$5.00

A haunting, dramatic song that tells of a mother compelled to abandon her infant daughter

Solo Soprano Voice and Piano

Text: Catherine Dalton

Moderate-Advanced

Premiere: Catherine Dalton, soprano; Mindy Eschedor, piano

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Description

The text for Silent Tears was written just prior to traveling to Vietnam where my husband and I, together with our two daughters and my mother and father, would adopt our new son. While preparing for the journey, my new son’s birth mother was always present in my mind – as I selected newborn clothes and blankets, as we prepared his new room with stuffed animals and a rocking chair. During all of this, I was ever aware of the fact that his birth mother and father would not be performing such rituals in preparation of a new member of the household. And so I held them both in my heart.

One night, just days before our flight, I was awakened with the words to this song. I searched for a recording device and spoke the words into the silence of the darkness. A few years later I set the lyrics to music and performed them at MacPhail Center for music as a voice student there.

Text

Early in the morning,
darkness hides our secret.
Bundled against the cold,
I walk with silent tears.

Under this tree Iโ€™ll leave her,
my little bird.
I gave her a name.
I pinned it underneath her blankets.

I must leave quickly
or be found myself.
I cannot move.

What will her life be like?
Who will make her smile?
Who will help her dance and fly?
My bird.

Early in the morning,
darkness hides our secret.

Copyright ยฉ Catherine Dalton 2009

Program Notes

Performance Notes

Performances

* Catherine Dalton, soprano; Mindy Eschedor, piano (Minneapolis) – World Premiere

Naomi Karstad, soprano; Carol Caoutte, piano (St. Paul)

Janice Porter, soprano; Gregory Theisen, piano (Minneapolis and St. Anthony, MN) – Listen Above

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