Little Things (text: anonymous) for mixed choir, a cappella; 3’(2017) (commissioned by the UW-Madison Madrigal Singers)
composer's note: Along with "She Waits for Me", this piece was commissioned as part of a choral concert on the theme of bicycles and bike-riding. I just love the punch line of this joke/poem hybrid, and thought it would be just Too Much Fun to set the preacher's words in very serious choral style before ripping the rug out from under the audience to drive the joke home.
text: The preacher spoke of little things, Their influence and power. And how the little pitted speck Made all the apple sour.
He told how great big sturdy oaks From little acorns grew, And how the tiny little stone The burly giant slew.
But the cyclist sat there unimpressed By all the speaker's fire, Until he went outside and found A pin had pierced his tire.