E-125-04 $3.50 Let it Matter and piano Elizabeth lexander eafarer Press
You ve got your own story You and everybody else have got a bone story, unrise certain and touchstone true. homegrown story that you ve known ever since you could say the words for us and them and you. ut every story s got a flip side Underneath the surface there s a rip tide Powerful and yet denied. o know the story of a stranger: hat can be a mighty re-arranger Let it be a downright game changer. Let it Matter Lyrics and Music by Elizabeth lexander CHORU: Let that story in. Let it matter. Let it open up the prison of your mind. here 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. (CHORU) 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. his is the work of justice, his is the work of trust, his is the work that is asked of us today. No one would ever call this easy listening Listen anyway. Listen anyway. Listen anyway. (CHORU) No one would ever call this easy listening. Cover art by gnes Grochulska www.agnesgrochulska.com 2016 by Elizabeth lexander
Pno traightforward, passionately (omewhere around q = 96) 4 4 4 4 4 4 Original version commissioned by masong, Jill Crandall rtistic Director Let it Matter and piano Elizabeth lexander You ve got your G C/G 6 F9/ G C/G 6 F9/ 5 sun rise cer tain and touch stone true. (joining in with basses) sun rise cer tain and touch stone true. You and ev ry bo dy else have got a bone* sto ry, own sto ry;you and ev ry bo dy elsehave got a bone* sto ry, G C/G 6 F9/ G C/G 6 F * Go ahead and slide up into soul-notes such as this one. Everyone else does it, so you might as well too. Plus it just feels goo. eafarer Press / E-125-04 2016 by Elizabeth lexander Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
2 9 Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core us and them, and you. us and them, and you. home grown sto ry that you ve known ev er since you could say the words for us and them, and you. home grown sto ry that you ve known ev er since you could say the words for us and them, and you. G C/G 6 F9/ G % 12 ut ev ry sto ry s got a flip side, ut ev ry sto ry s got a flip side, C9(;3) G C/G 1 2 3 eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
15 stealth notes * Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core 3 un der neath the sur face there s a rip stealth notes * un der neath the sur face there s a rip tide pow er ful and yet de nied, tide pow er ful and yet de nied, o know the stealth notes * un der neath the sur face there s a rip tide pow er ful and yet de nied, o know the stealth notes * un der neath the sur face there s a rip tide pow er ful and yet de nied, o know the 6 F9/ G C/G /F F 18 hat can be a migh ty re ar rang er. Let it be a down right gamechang strug gle of a stran ger: hat can be a migh ty re ar rang er. Let it be a down right gamechang strug gle of a stran ger: hat can be a migh ty re ar rang er. Let it be a down right gamechang strug gle of a stran ger: hat can be a migh ty re ar rang er. Let it be a down right gamechang C/E G/D C G/ /F F * What are stealth notes? I m glad you asked. hey are little cue notes which you may sing quietly during early rehearsals, until you learn to confidently pull your next entrance note out of the air. Voila! eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
4 22 f Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core f er, Oh let that sto ry in, f er, Let it in, let it in, Oh let that sto ry in, f er, Let it in, Oh let that sto ry in, F/E E er, Let it in, Oh let that sto ry in, D7( 4) 26 Let it mat ter, Let it o pen up the pri son of your mind. here's so much Let it mat ter, Let it o pen up the pri son of your mind. here's so much Let it in, let it mat ter, Let it o pen up the pri son of your mind. Let it mat ter, Let it o pen up the pri son of your mind. C9( 4) D7( 4) G C9( 4) D7( 4) G eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
Opal Palmer disa, poet Margaret & George lexander, parents Yehuda michai, poet jorn rneson, generous web designer cott ates, poet bbie etinis, cooser/colleague Dennis lubaugh, music dealer Michael devernon oblett, poet Ray radbury, writer Norbert Capek, visionary e. e. cummings, poet Philip Dacey, poet Emily LO Dickinson, OF poet Evelyn HRD Dudley, poet Rob WORK & Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer ophia Lyon Fahs, writer Richard M. Fewkes, writer Pesha Gertler, poet Richard. Gilbert, minister/writer Jack Gallagher, CREIVIY cooser/teacher Paul Gerike, proofreader teve Harper, technical advisor teve Hawkins, generous web designer Edie Hill, cooser/colleague Langston Hughes, poet Mark Huhrey, piano technician Karel Husa, cooser/teacher Kalidasa, poet Garrison Keillor, storyteller Denise Levertov, poet George Ella Lyon, poet Jonathan Machen, artist Edna t. Vincent Millay, poet J. David Moore, cooser/colleague Joan Wolf Prefontaine, WEN poet Gerald Rich, INO poet Carl andburg, RINGING poet King igismund III, religious reformer teven tucky, cooser/teacher Rabindranath agore, poet Howard hurman, civil rights leader/writer John Greenleaf Whittier, poet heodore Chickering Williams, poet Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher Nancy Wood, poet Yehudi HI Wyner, cooser/teacher MUIC Paul O YOU... dams, technical advisor Opal Palmer disa, poet Margaret & George lexander, parents Yehuda michai, poet jorn rneson, generous web designer cott ates, poet bbie etinis, cooser/colleague Dennis lubaugh, music dealer Michael devernon oblett, poet Ray radbury, writer Norbert Capek, visionary e. e. cummings, poet Philip Dacey, poet Emily Dickinson, poet Evelyn Dudley, poet Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer ophia Lyon Fahs, writer Richard M. Fewkes, writer Pesha Gertler, poet Richard. Gilbert, minister/writer Jack Gallagher, cooser/teacher Paul Gerike, proofreader teve Harper, technical advisor teve Hawkins, generous web designer Edie Hill, cooser/colleague Langston Hughes, poet Mark Huhrey, piano technician Karel Husa, cooser/teacher Kalidasa, poet Garrison Keillor, storyteller Denise Levertov, poet George Ella Lyon, poet Jonathan Machen, artist Edna t. Vincent Millay, poet J. David Moore, cooser/colleague Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet Gerald Rich, poet Carl andburg, poet King igismund III, religious reformer teven tucky, cooser/teacher Rabindranath agore, poet Howard hurman, civil rights leader/writer John Greenleaf Whittier, poet heodore Chickering Williams, poet Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher Nancy Wood, poet Yehudi Wyner, cooser/teacher Paul dams, technical advisor Opal Palmer disa, poet Margaret & George lexander, parents Yehuda michai, poet jorn rneson, generous web...nd designer cott OME ates, poet OF bbie I etinis, cooser/colleague Dennis lubaugh, music dealer Michael devernon oblett, poet Ray radbury, writer Norbert Capek, visionary e. e. cummings, poet Philip Dacey, poet W Emily Dickinson, EVEN poet MINE. Evelyn Dudley, poet Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer ophia Lyon Fahs, writer Richard M. Fewkes, writer Pesha Gertler, poet Richard. Gilbert, minister/writer Jack Gallagher, cooser/teacher Paul Gerike, proofreader teve Harper, technical advisor teve Hawkins, generous web designer Edie Hill, cooser/colleague Langston Hughes, poet Mark Huhrey, piano technician Karel Husa, cooser/teacher Kalidasa, poet Garrison Keillor, storyteller Denise Levertov, poet George Ella Lyon, poet Jonathan Machen, artist Edna t. Vincent Millay, poet J. David Moore, cooser/colleague Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet Gerald Rich, poet Carl andburg, poet King HI PGE H EEN INENIONLLY LEF LNK. (YOU KNOW WHY.) COMPLEE PERUL COPY MY E PURCHED FROM ELIZEH LEXNDER eafarer Press www.seafarerpress.com
6 37 Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core Let it in, let it in, No mat ter do. No mat ter do. 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 G( 4) G C9 C G( 4) G 40 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 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 7 G/ C G/ 7 G/ eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
42 Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core 7 true, don t be a fraid to let that stor y in, true, don t be a fraid to let that stor y in, true, don t be a fraid to let that stor y in, F% D7( 4) 44 Let it in, Let it in, Let it mat ter, Let it o pen up the pri son of your mind. here's so much Let it mat ter, Let it o pen up the pri son of your mind. here's so much C9( 4) D7( 4) G C9( 4) D7( 4) G eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
8 48 Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core Oh, Oh, Let it mat ter, let it in, let it in. Oh, Let it mat ter, let it in, let it in, let it in. pain and glo ry in ev ry bo dy s sto ry: Oh, let it in, let it in, let it in. pain and glo ry in ev ry bo dy s sto ry: Oh, let it in. C9/E D/F F C/E C C/D G9 52 Oh, It's a bout the dreams that fall a part, Oh, let that sto ry in, Oh, let that sto ry in, It's a bout the fears that lead to fenc es, Oh, C9( 4) C G( 4) G C9( 4) C eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
55 Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core 9 It's a bout what builds up our de fen ses, You ve got to Oh, It's a bout what builds up our de fen ses, You ve got to Oh, It's a bout what builds up our de fen ses, You ve got to G9 Let it in, let it in, You ve got to C9( 4) C G( 4) G 58 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 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 7 G/ C G/ 7 G/ eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
10 60 f Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core start, f un til you start to let that sto ry in (n), start, f un til you start to let that sto ry in (n), start, f Oh, start, Oh, F% D7( 4) 3 3 4 3 4 f 62 C p (but very intensely) this is the work that is asked p (but very intensely) p (but very intensely) this is the work that is asked his is the work of jus tice, this is the work of trust, this is the work that is asked p (but very intensely) his is the work of jus tice, this is the work of trust, this is the work that is asked C/E G/D C9 p eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
65 Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core 11 of us to day. of us. No one would ev er call this eas y lis ten ing. of us to day. of us. No one would ev er call this eas y lis ten ing. G/ C 7 G/ G 68 Lis ten an y way, Lis ten an y way, Lis ten an y way, Let it in, Lis ten an y way, Lis ten an y way, Lis ten an y way, Let F9(;3) F9(;3) 7 E D7( 4) it in, 3 eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
Opal Palmer disa, poet Margaret & George lexander, parents Yehuda michai, poet jorn rneson, generous web designer cott ates, poet bbie etinis, cooser/colleague Dennis lubaugh, music dealer Michael devernon oblett, poet Ray radbury, writer Norbert Capek, visionary e. e. cummings, poet Philip Dacey, poet Emily LO Dickinson, OF poet Evelyn HRD Dudley, poet Rob WORK & Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer ophia Lyon Fahs, writer Richard M. Fewkes, writer Pesha Gertler, poet Richard. Gilbert, minister/writer Jack Gallagher, CREIVIY cooser/teacher Paul Gerike, proofreader teve Harper, technical advisor teve Hawkins, generous web designer Edie Hill, cooser/colleague Langston Hughes, poet Mark Huhrey, piano technician Karel Husa, cooser/teacher Kalidasa, poet Garrison Keillor, storyteller Denise Levertov, poet George Ella Lyon, poet Jonathan Machen, artist Edna t. Vincent Millay, poet J. David Moore, cooser/colleague Joan Wolf Prefontaine, WEN poet Gerald Rich, INO poet Carl andburg, RINGING poet King igismund III, religious reformer teven tucky, cooser/teacher Rabindranath agore, poet Howard hurman, civil rights leader/writer John Greenleaf Whittier, poet heodore Chickering Williams, poet Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher Nancy Wood, poet Yehudi HI Wyner, cooser/teacher MUIC Paul O YOU... dams, technical advisor Opal Palmer disa, poet Margaret & George lexander, parents Yehuda michai, poet jorn rneson, generous web designer cott ates, poet bbie etinis, cooser/colleague Dennis lubaugh, music dealer Michael devernon oblett, poet Ray radbury, writer Norbert Capek, visionary e. e. cummings, poet Philip Dacey, poet Emily Dickinson, poet Evelyn Dudley, poet Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer ophia Lyon Fahs, writer Richard M. Fewkes, writer Pesha Gertler, poet Richard. Gilbert, minister/writer Jack Gallagher, cooser/teacher Paul Gerike, proofreader teve Harper, technical advisor teve Hawkins, generous web designer Edie Hill, cooser/colleague Langston Hughes, poet Mark Huhrey, piano technician Karel Husa, cooser/teacher Kalidasa, poet Garrison Keillor, storyteller Denise Levertov, poet George Ella Lyon, poet Jonathan Machen, artist Edna t. Vincent Millay, poet J. David Moore, cooser/colleague Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet Gerald Rich, poet Carl andburg, poet King igismund III, religious reformer teven tucky, cooser/teacher Rabindranath agore, poet Howard hurman, civil rights leader/writer John Greenleaf Whittier, poet heodore Chickering Williams, poet Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher Nancy Wood, poet Yehudi Wyner, cooser/teacher Paul dams, technical advisor Opal Palmer disa, poet Margaret & George lexander, parents Yehuda michai, poet jorn rneson, generous web...nd designer cott OME ates, poet OF bbie I etinis, cooser/colleague Dennis lubaugh, music dealer Michael devernon oblett, poet Ray radbury, writer Norbert Capek, visionary e. e. cummings, poet Philip Dacey, poet W Emily Dickinson, EVEN poet MINE. Evelyn Dudley, poet Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer ophia Lyon Fahs, writer Richard M. Fewkes, writer Pesha Gertler, poet Richard. Gilbert, minister/writer Jack Gallagher, cooser/teacher Paul Gerike, proofreader teve Harper, technical advisor teve Hawkins, generous web designer Edie Hill, cooser/colleague Langston Hughes, poet Mark Huhrey, piano technician Karel Husa, cooser/teacher Kalidasa, poet Garrison Keillor, storyteller Denise Levertov, poet George Ella Lyon, poet Jonathan Machen, artist Edna t. Vincent Millay, poet J. David Moore, cooser/colleague Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet Gerald Rich, poet Carl andburg, poet King HI PGE H EEN INENIONLLY LEF LNK. (YOU KNOW WHY.) COMPLEE PERUL COPY MY E PURCHED FROM ELIZEH LEXNDER eafarer Press www.seafarerpress.com
78 Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core 13 let it in, let it in, let it in, Oh, let it in,let it in, Let it mat ter, let it mat ter, let it mat ter, let that stor y mat ter, Oh, let it mat ter, let it mat ter, let that stor y mat ter, Oh, let it in, let it in, let it in, let that stor y mat ter, 7 G/ C G9/D 82 let that stor y mat ter, let it in. let that stor y mat ter, let it in. let that stor y mat ter, let it in. let that stor y mat ter, let it in. C/E D/F G G/ F9/C eafarer Press / E-125-04 Keep pedal depressed for the remainder of the piece. Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
14 86 Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core p No one would ev er call this eas y lis ten ing. p No one would ev er call this eas y lis ten ing. p F9/C G7( ˆˆ9)/D F9/C No one would ev er call this p 89 rallentando pp p No one would ev er call this eas y lis ten pp ing. No one would ev er call this No one would ev er call this eas y lis ten ing. pp eas y lis ten ing. G7( ˆˆ9)/D F9/C G7( ˆˆ9)/D pp eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
92 eas y lis ten ing. Let it Matter - and piano - Choral core ingers: gradually and unobtrusively close vowel to ng 15 pp ingers: gradually and unobtrusively close vowel to ng ingers: gradually and unobtrusively close vowel to ng ingers: gradually and unobtrusively close vowel to ng F9/C G7( ˆˆ9)/D F9/C 95 niente niente niente niente G7( ˆˆ9)/D eafarer Press / E-125-04 Please do not photocopy this score. Coosing is my livelihood. dditional copies of this music
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 oard, National Orchestral ssociation, International League of Women Coosers, and merican Coosers Forum. Elizabeth lives in aint 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
elected Choral Music by Elizabeth lexander pril Rain ong (Langston Hughes)............................................... E-006-01 efore the read (English folk prayer)............................................... E-023-00 lessed e the Flower hat riuhs (Michael devernon oblett)....................... E-078-00 Cherish Your Doubt (lexander) & piano / & piano................... E-063-01 / E-063-02 Climb (Edna t. Vincent Millay) & piano............................................ E-059-00 Dragon Dance (Elizabeth lexander) & piano............................................ E-001-00 Die Gedanken ind Frei (15 5h century German protest song, arr.) & piano.................. E-087-00 he Earth Called o My Friend (Nancy Wood) & piano................................. E-057-00 Even a Fist Was Once an Open Palm (Yehuda michai)............................... E-026-01 Faith Is the ird hat Feels the Light (Rabindranath agore)............................. E-068-00 Fighting Over What We elieve (lexander) youth choir, & piano................... E-099-00 Finally On My Way o Yes (Pesha Gertler) & piano.................................. E-019-00 Folks, I m elling You (Langston Hughes) & piano................................... E-027-00 For o the Children Come (ophia Fahs) & piano..................................... E-010-00 Glen ong (cott ates) & piano.................................................. E-025-00 Go Out! (John Murray) & piano................................................... E-081-00 I Write his Poem Out of Darkness (George Ella Lyon), flute, violin & piano................ E-024-00 If You Can Walk You Can Dance (Zimbabwean Proverb) & piano / & piano.. E-022-03 / E-022-05 Immortal Love (John Greenleaf Whittier)............................................ E-017-00 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (arr. Polish carol).......................................... E-020-00 he Journey (Evelyn Dudley) /................................... E-075-00 / E-075-01 Ju! (Ray radbury) & string quartet............................................... E-090-00 Life is not a Garden (lexander) & piano........................................... E-064-00 May his e a Working lleluia (lexander) Children s choir, & piano (opt. flute & truets). E-098-00 Morning read (my Lowell).................................................... E-060-00...or a musician (Philip Dacey) & orchestra........................................... E-007-00 Palette o Paint Us s We re (Gerald Rich) & piano / & piano......... E-014-00 / E-014-01 Praise Wet now Falling Early (Denise Levertov) & piano E-015-00 Reasons for the Perpetuation of lavery (lexander).................................. E-091-00 pring Grass (Carl andburg)..................................................... E-006-03 hey Have Freckles Everywhere (lexander) & piano................................. E-076-00 hose Who Wish o ing lways Find a ong (wedish proverb), oboe & piano.............. E-022-01 o Make a Prairie (Emily Dickinson) & piano......................................... E-016-00 omorrow, God Willing (Garrison Keillor).......................................... E-077-00 rust the eeds (lexander)...................................................... E-009-00 We Lift Up Our Hearts (Richard Fewkes) Children s choir, & piano...................... E-021-00 We Remember hem (ylvan Kamens & Jack Riemer) & piano.......................... E-083-01 Where here Is Light in the oul (Chinese proverb) /................... E-070-00 / E-070-01 When the ong of the ngels Is tilled (Howard hurman) /............ E-062-04 / E-062-02 Why I Pity the Woman Who Never pills (Joan Wolf Prefontaine)....................... E-058-00 CD: Finally On My Way o Yes ward-winning choral works by Elizabeth lexander............. E-CD-001 For more information about these and over 100 other choral pieces, visit: eafarer Press ~ www.seafarerpress.com