for mixed voices (SATB with divisi) & piano
Text: English (Silvestri)
Duration: c5'30''
Difficulty: 3/5

Weddings are joyful occasions – for the happy couple as well as for their community. When a couple stands before their friends and families, and sometimes in sacred settings before God, they make vows to each other. These vows are not simply words from some ancient ceremony; they represent a covenant to be fulfilled. But some couples are called on to fulfil their vows to each other sooner rather than the more expected later. The text, by Charles Anthony Silvestri, is based on the author’s own experience loving his own wife through her difficult illness and early death, and it serves as a reminder to all those who take these vows that they come due sooner or later. Arnesen’s music is emotive and touching, at first portraying the joy and love of two people making their vows and, later, the turmoil of a breaking heart.

Text
In the presence of God I choose you
To have and to hold
From this day forward,
For better, or for worse,
For richer, for poorer,
In sickness and in health,
To love and cherish,
So long as we both shall live
All this do we vow and promise
As we begin our journey
On this our joyful day.

The vows we speak today, in joy
By time and trials are tested:
But love abides
In good times and in bad,
Until that darkest day
When one of us
Must close the other’s eyes
And say goodbye.

Too soon, my love, too soon
Your sickness and your health
Took the better from the worst
Till death parted us.
Too soon, my love, too soon.
I loved loving you,
I cherish having cherished you,
My honor ever was and is to honor you
Until we meet again.

Charles Anthony Silvestri

Kim André Arnesen
Arnesen is one of the most frequently performed composers from Norway today. He grew up in Trondheim where he was a chorister in Nidaros Cathedral, later being educated at the Music Conservatory in Trondheim. With an interest in baroque music, contemporary classical music, and popular music, Kim could have taken many roads, but choral music became his greatest passion. His works have been performed in more than 30 countries around the world. His albums Magnificat (2014) and Infinity (2018) received excellent reviews and reached the top of the iTunes classical charts. He continues to enjoy a busy international schedule of commissions as well as guest appearances at festivals and other choral events. Arnesen has been a house composer at Boosey & Hawkes since 2017.