I sing because … - Will Todd

“I sing because...“ is the third and final movement of the choral suite Todd’s ‘Songs of Love’, which was commissioned by Elena Sharkova for the Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale in 2012. The haunting and yearning text about love and loss is written by the American poet, Nils Peterson after a Greek poem by Maria Polydouri. With an aching melody which starts on upper voices and gradually builds to the whole choir, this work features the composer’s characteristic lush vocal harmonies and improvisatory accompaniment. The result is a very emotionally charged piece in which the words and music complement each other greatly.