David Solomons

Alternative title

I saw a stranger yestreen

Composer

David W Solomons

Publisher

David W Solomons

Genre

Classical / Instrumental

Instrumentation

Piano, Cello, Classical guitar, Alto Recorder

Scored for

Quartet

Type of score

Full score, Parts

Duration

3'20"

Difficulty

Medium

Year of composition

2013

Description
I was entranced by the poem retrieved and translated from an ancient rune by Kenneth Macleod and I set it to music many years ago, calling it "The Crofter's Song".
This was one of the first of my songs using the Dorian mode.
Since the works of the Rev Kenneth Macleod are still in copyright, I have not published the song itself, but various versions of my musical setting are available on musicaneo:

This one - which is the latest and most complex - for recorder, guitar, piano and cello

and also

I Saw a Stranger - (The Crofter's song) - recorder quartet
http://dwsolo.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-169076_i_saw_a_stranger_the_crofter_s_song_-_for_recorder_quartet.html

Rune of hospitality (Crofter's song) (flute and guitar) - which follows more closely my original unpublished song.
http://dwsolo.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-85488_the_rune_of_hospitality__flute_and_guitar.html


Since the words of Macleod's translation are nevertheless available in many places online, you may like to follow the way my music here inteprets them:


[A dorian section]
I saw a stranger yestreen;
I put the food in the eating place,
Drink in the drinking place,
Music in the listening place;

[B major section]
In the sacred name of the Triune,
He blessed myself and my house,
My cattle and my dear ones.

[C major section]
And the lark said in her song,
Often, often, often,
Often goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise;
Often, often, often,
Often goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise.

[final A dorian section]
I saw a stranger yestreen;

Upload date

26 Jan 2013