Composer

:

Hubert Parry

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

2:19

Hubert Parry's "Songs of Farewell" is a collection of six choral pieces that were composed between 1913 and 1916. The second song in the collection, "I know my soul hath power," was written in 1914 and premiered in the same year. The piece is set for four-part choir and is characterized by its rich harmonies and expressive melodies. The text, written by John Henry Newman, speaks of the power of the soul to overcome death and find eternal rest. The piece is divided into three distinct sections. The first section begins with a solo tenor voice singing the opening line, "I know my soul hath power to know all things." The choir then enters with a lush, harmonized setting of the text. The music builds in intensity as the choir sings, "And yet hath being but an hour." The second section of the piece is marked by a change in tempo and mood. The choir sings a more subdued and reflective melody as they contemplate the fleeting nature of life. The text reads, "It hath its wants, it hath its fears; yet scans the future and the past." The final section of the piece returns to the opening melody, but with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. The choir sings, "And, like a living meteor, canst dart to and from all things that are." The music builds to a triumphant climax as the choir proclaims, "And yet be imperishable." Overall, "I know my soul hath power" is a powerful and moving piece of choral music that speaks to the human experience of mortality and the hope for eternal life. Parry's use of rich harmonies and expressive melodies perfectly captures the emotional depth of the text, making it a beloved piece in the choral repertoire.

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