SE-125-03 $3.50 Let it Matter SS and piano Elizabeth lexander Seafarer Press
You ve got your own story You and everybody else have got a bone story, Sunrise certain and touchstone true. homegrown story that you ve known ever since you could say the words for us and them and you. But every story s got a flip side Underneath the surface there s a rip tide Powerful and yet denied. To know the story of a stranger: That can be a mighty re-arranger Let it be a downright game changer. Let it Matter Lyrics and Music by Elizabeth lexander CHORUS: Let that story in. Let it matter. Let it open up the prison of your mind. There s so much pain and glory in everybody s story Let it matter. Let it in. Let it lead to honest conversation. Let it shape the things you say and do. Let it be the bridge that heals a nation. No matter what you ve been through, Your own point of view Is just a little part of what is true. Don t be afraid to let that story in. (CHORUS) It s about the fears that lead to fences. It s about the dreams that fall apart. It s about what builds up our defenses. You ve got to open your heart Your most tender part You ll find yourself alone until you start Until you start to let that story in. This is the work of justice, This is the work of trust, This is the work that is asked of us today. No one would ever call this easy listening Listen anyway. Listen anyway. Listen anyway. (CHORUS) No one would ever call this easy listening. Cover art by gnes Grochulska www.agnesgrochulska.com 2016 by Elizabeth lexander
Commissioned by masong: Champaign-Urbana's Premier Lesbian/Feminist Chorus Let it Matter SS and piano Pno Straightforward, passionately (Somewhere around q = 100) 4 4 mp Elizabeth lexander 4 mp I You ve got your own sto ry, mp You and ev ry bo dy else have got a bone* sto ry, * Go ahead and slide up into this and other selected soul-notes. Everyone else does it, so you might as well too. Plus it just feels good. 7 mp sun rise cer tain and touch stone true. I sun rise cer tain and touch stone true. home grown sto ry that you ve home grown sto ry that you ve Seafarer Press / SE-125-03 2015 by Elizabeth lexander
2 10 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score us and them, and you. I known ev er since you could say the words for us and them, and you. known ev er since you could say the words for us and them, and you. I 13 But ev ry sto ry s got a flip side, But ev ry sto ry s got a flip side, 15 mf I there s a rip mf there s a rip mf un der neath the sur face there s a rip tide pow er ful and tide pow er ful and tide pow er ful and mf Seafarer Press / SE-125-03 * In m. 12, a slight lift between the words in quotations will help with understandability.
17 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score 3 yet de nied, That I yet de nied, That yet de nied, To know the strug gle of a stran ger: That 19 can be a migh ty re ar rang er. Let it be a I can be a migh ty re ar rang er. Let it be a can be a migh ty re ar rang er. Let it be a 21 down right game chang er, Let it I down right game chang er, Let it down right game chang er, Let it in, let it in, Seafarer Press / SE-125-03
4 I 24 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score in, Oh let that sto ry in, in, Oh let that sto ry in, Oh let that sto ry in, I 26 Let it mat ter, Let it o * Let it mat ter, Let it o Let it in, let it mat ter, Let it o 28 * Some Soprano IIs may wish to sing with the ltos on this page in order to create better balance. ** Because of the staggered cutoffs in meausre 64, Soprano I may wish to de-emphasize the final n on in. pen up the pri son of your mind. There's so much I pen up the pri son of your mind. There's so much pen up the pri son of your mind. There's so much Seafarer Press / SE-125-03
Opal Palmer disa, poet B Margaret & George lexander, parents B Yehuda michai, poet B Bjorn rneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B bbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael devernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily LOT Dickinson, OF poet B Evelyn HRD Dudley, poet B Rob WORK & Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, CRETIVITY composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, WENT poet B Gerald Rich, INTO poet B Carl Sandburg, BRINGING poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven Stucky, composer/teacher B Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John Greenleaf Whittier, poet B Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood, poet B Yehudi THIS Wyner, composer/teacher MUSIC B Paul TO YOU... dams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer disa, poet B Margaret & George lexander, parents B Yehuda michai, poet B Bjorn rneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B bbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael devernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven Stucky, composer/teacher B Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John Greenleaf Whittier, poet B Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood, poet B Yehudi Wyner, composer/teacher B Paul dams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer disa, poet B Margaret & George lexander, parents B Yehuda michai, poet B Bjorn rneson, generous web...nd designer B Scott SOME Bates, poet OF B bbie IT Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael devernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet WS B Emily Dickinson, EVEN poet B MINE. Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King THIS PGE HS BEEN INTENTIONLLY LEFT BLNK. (YOU KNOW WHY.) COMPLETE PERUSL COPY MY BE PURCHSED FROM ELIZBETH LEXNDER T Seafarer Press www.seafarerpress.com
6 I 36 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score Let it in, let it in, Let it shape the things you say and do. to shape the things you say and do. I 38 No mat ter Let it be the bridge that heals a na tion. No mat ter Let it be the bridge that heals a na tion. No mat ter 40 what you've been through, your own point of view is just a lit tle part of what is I what you've been through, your own point of view is just a lit tle part of what is what you've been through, your own point of view is just a lit tle part of what is Seafarer Press / SE-125-03
42 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score 7 true, don t be a fraid to let that stor y in, I true, don t be a fraid to let that stor y in, true, don t be a fraid 44 C Let it mat ter, I Let it mat ter, Let it o Let it in, let it mat ter, Let it o 46 Let it in, There's so much I pen up the pri son of your mind. There's so much pen up the pri son of your mind. There's so much Seafarer Press / SE-125-03
8 I 48 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score pain and glo ry in ev ry bo dy s sto ry: pain and glo ry in ev ry bo dy s sto ry: pain and glo ry in ev ry bo dy s sto ry: 50 Let it mat ter, let it in. I Let it mat ter, let it in. let it in, let it in, Let it mat ter, let it in, let it in, let it in, I 52 D It's a bout the fears that lead to fenc es, Oh, let that sto ry in, Oh, let that sto ry in, Seafarer Press / SE-125-03
54 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score 9 It's a bout the dreams that fall a part, I Oh Oh Let it in, let it in, 56 It's a bout what builds up our de fen ses, You ve got to I It's a bout what builds up our de fen ses, You ve got to It's a bout what builds up our de fen ses, You ve got to 58 o pen your heart, the most ten der part, you'll find your self a lone un til you I o pen your heart, the most ten der part, you'll find your self a lone un til you o pen your heart, the most ten der part, you'll find your self a lone un til you Seafarer Press / SE-125-03
10 60 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score start, un til you start to let that sto ry in. I start, un til you start to let that sto ry in, start, un til you start. 62 E p mp I p mp This is the work of jus tice, this is the work of trust, this this 64 is the work that is asked of us to I is the work that is asked of us to Seafarer Press / SE-125-03
66 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score 11 day. I No one would ev er call this eas y lis ten ing. Lis ten an y way, day. 69 Lis ten an y way, Lis ten an y way, I Lis ten an y way, Let it in, Lis ten an y way, 72 F Let it in, Let it mat ter, I Let it mat ter, Let it o Let it in, let it mat ter, Let it o Seafarer Press / SE-125-03
Opal Palmer disa, poet B Margaret & George lexander, parents B Yehuda michai, poet B Bjorn rneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B bbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael devernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily LOT Dickinson, OF poet B Evelyn HRD Dudley, poet B Rob WORK & Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, CRETIVITY composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, WENT poet B Gerald Rich, INTO poet B Carl Sandburg, BRINGING poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven Stucky, composer/teacher B Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John Greenleaf Whittier, poet B Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood, poet B Yehudi THIS Wyner, composer/teacher MUSIC B Paul TO YOU... dams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer disa, poet B Margaret & George lexander, parents B Yehuda michai, poet B Bjorn rneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B bbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael devernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven Stucky, composer/teacher B Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John Greenleaf Whittier, poet B Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood, poet B Yehudi Wyner, composer/teacher B Paul dams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer disa, poet B Margaret & George lexander, parents B Yehuda michai, poet B Bjorn rneson, generous web...nd designer B Scott SOME Bates, poet OF B bbie IT Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael devernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet WS B Emily Dickinson, EVEN poet B MINE. Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King THIS PGE HS BEEN INTENTIONLLY LEFT BLNK. (YOU KNOW WHY.) COMPLETE PERUSL COPY MY BE PURCHSED FROM ELIZBETH LEXNDER T Seafarer Press www.seafarerpress.com
80 Let it Matter - SS and piano - Choral Score 13 Oh, let it in, let it in, let that stor y mat I ter, let that stor y mat ter, let that stor y mat ter, let that stor y mat ter, let that stor y mat 83 niente I ter, let it in. ter, let it in. ter, let it in. niente niente 86 88 pp thoughtfully, sung in unison with no conductor needing to unite these voices: Tutti No one would ev er call this eas y lis ten ing. Seafarer Press / SE-125-03
Elizabeth lexander grew up in the Carolinas and ppalachian Ohio. Her love of words nearly eclipses her love of music a passion reflected in her over 100 songs and choral works, which have received thousands of performances worldwide. recent McKnight Fellow, she has received awards and fellowships from the Jerome Foundation, New York Council on the rts, Wisconsin rts Board, National Orchestral ssociation, International League of Women Composers, and merican Composers Forum. Elizabeth lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she makes pretty good biscuits, looks for all kinds of excuses to visit her two grown sons, and gardens during the three month period in Minnesota which is not winter. www.elizabethalexander.com