IN A GARDEN for SSATB Chorus and Piano (2026) - Words by Sara Teasdale
- Stanley M. Hoffman
- Aug 6
- 1 min read
“In a Garden” is a setting of the text by Sara Teasdale (1884–1933). The poem is in six paragraphs with four lines per paragraph. The form of the composition is A-A’-B-A”. The music begins with an introduction featuring quartal harmonies; the choir singing in octaves, then fifths, then sevenths. The main theme features a legato choral melody sung in thirds with octave doublings accompanied by flowing arpeggios in the piano, painting the calm Connecticut river. The end of each A section features either women or men singing upward or downward in thirds to paint the words. The contrasting B section is brief in keeping with the words which suddenly concern a drum, a fife, and marching men. Quartal harmonies return leading to the A” section with words about the calm Connecticut river. The music ends with a piano postlude based on an interlude that bridges sections A and A’.
Words: Public Domain. Music: © Copyright 2026 by Stanley M. Hoffman. www.stanleymhoffman.com All rights reserved. The sheet music is available for licensing from me, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus.
Sccrolling score music video.
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