Lullaby, composed by Daniel Elder - The Resonanz Children's Choir, Indonesia

The Resonanz Children's Choir, Indonesia
Valencia, accompanist
Conductors : Devi Fransisca, Luciana Oendoen, Fiona Luisa

A collaborative concert with Der Mädchenchor der Sing-Akademie zu Berlin
Trinitatis Kirche, Berlin
2nd July 2016

Lullaby
Composed by Daniel Elder (1986-)

This expressive lullaby, composed by a young promising composer, Daniel Elder. He tries to create forms and aesthetics that are at once lyrical and textural, drawing its roots, particularly from the impressionist movement. His choral works have been performed by renowned college ensembles, and recently, by the internationally acclaimed Eric Whitacre Singers.

This beautiful piece serves as a simple song of reassurance, as a mother may sing to her child to stave off a fear of the darkness and solitude of night. The song is surrounded with a flowing piano accompaniment and imitative counterlines in a delightfully sensitive setting. The beauty of this original text lies in its dual nature, as it also serves to comfort those who grieve over loss. The line “the day is done, and gone the sun” borrows from the first line of text accompanying the traditional “taps” tune observed at some memorial services.

Lullaby, sing lullaby, the day is far behind you.
The moon sits high atop the sky, now let sweet slumber find you.
Away, away..
The day is done, and gone the sun that lit the world so brightly.
The earth’s aglow with speckled show of twinkling starts so sprightly.
Away, away..

Where the sunlight is beaming through a deep cloudless blue,
And the treetops are gleaming with a fresh morning dew.
Where the mountains are shining at the meadows below,
In a brilliant white lining of a newfallen snow.

Close you eyes, breathe in the night, a softer bed I’ll make you.
The trial is done, all danger gone, now let far dreaming take you. Away, away..
Where the ocean is lapping at a soft, pearly shore,
And the swaying palms napping as their swinging fronds soar.
Now the dark night approaches, yet so soft and so mild.
Lullaby, sing lullaby, sleep my child.