Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep for TTBB Chorus and Piano

For Men's Chorus TTBB and Piano
Text by Mary Frye, Music by Janet Lanier
Performance time - 4:45
Price:  $2.50 per vocal/piano copy

Commissioned by the Amarillo High School Bel Canto Chorale Men directed by Susan Hinrichs for the 2008 Honor Choir Performance at the Texas Music Educator's Association Convention (TMEA) in San Antonio, TX. Composed in honor of those who gave their lives for our freedom and in memory of S/Sgt Andrew Caine Perkins, AHS Class of 1998, KIA March 5, 2007, Samarra, Iraq.

The text is freely based on a poem by Mary Frye, a Baltimore homemaker, who wrote this, her first poem, in 1932 to console her friend Margaret who was grieving the death of her mother. Margaret cried that she was not able to visit her mother's grave to say goodbye because she died in Germany during Hitler's powerful reign. The poem came to Mary while she was checking off a list of groceries so she gave it to Margaret written on a torn grocery sack.

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND WEEP
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints of snow.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

After the performance of this piece by the New Jersey based choral ensemble, Schola Cantorum on Hudson, on March 19th and 20th, 2011, the Marketing and Communication Director, Jack Whyte wrote this:

"I just wanted you to know that your piece tonight was GORGEOUS, as was the entire concert.  Just gorgeous--and the performance was terrific.  Your piece was so moving I had to use all my control to keep from completely falling apart, and Deborah [King] placed it beautifully into the theme of the concert.   So thank you for writing this beautiful work, and I can’t wait to hear it again tomorrow." ~ Jack Whyte, Director of Marketing and Communication, Schola Cantorum on Hudson

See the video of the performance of "Do Not Stand
at My Grave and Weep" performed by the Amarillo High School
Bel Canto Chorale Men.

Listen to a recording of AHS Bel Canto Chorale Men performing "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep" for the 2008 TMEA Convention
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep TMEA

Listen to a recording of the Amarillo Civic Chorus Men:
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep Civic Chorus

 (Please note that we use the honor system here.  You may purchase one copy of the full score for perusal purposes or you may select the number of copies according to your ensemble needs. (See "add to cart" button below.) If you wish to purchase numerous copies and have them printed for you, please write to me through the comment portion of the Check Out process or through my Contact Page so that I can tell you the cost of shipping and handling.)