The Road Home - Stephen Paulus - Conspirare

I found Stephen Paulus' setting of this American hymn beautiful and moving. Its carol-like cadences are made the more affecting by Conspirare's sensitive and skillful singing here - in particular, soprano soloist, Melissa Givens.

I was taken by surprise emotionally; I could never sing this, for I'd choke and blubber :).

English composer Sir Michael Tippett was deeply affected by the gospel music of America, and used those rich themes in his most notable compositions.

I took these pics in Deerfield and the Berkshires (Massachusetts); in Vermont; and in the Adirondacks and the Catskills (upstate New York) USA.

Here are the words:

Tell me where is the road I can call my own,
That I left, that I lost, so long ago.
All these years I have wondered, oh when will I know,
There's a way, there's a road that will lead me home.

After wind, After rain, when the dark is done,
As I wake from a dream, in the gold of day,
Through the air there's a calling from far away,
There's a voice I can hear that will lead me home.

Rise up, follow me, come away is the call
With (the) love in your heart as the only song
There is no such beauty as where you belong
Rise up, follow me, I will lead you home.