While I Breathe, I Hope

While I Breathe, I Hope

Price range: $2.15 through $3.25

Encourage your singers to practice the act of mindfulness through performance, breathing love in and out.

Voicing: SSA Choir and Piano

Duration: 4.5 Minutes

Difficulty: 3 (Medium)

Poet/Lyricist: Brian Newhouse


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Description

The latin phrase “Dum Spiro Spero” translates to “While I breathe, I hope.” The phrase is of indeterminate origin, but featured as the motto for several places and organizations, includ-ing the U.S. state of South Carolina. This seemed a fitting addition to Brian Newhouse’s beautiful poem written during the pandemic. For me, nothing is quite as hopeful as song and the act of singing. This music should feel wonderful to sing, full of hope and joy, full- throated and flourishing.

Perusal Score

Performed by UWF Singers Dr. Peter Steenblik, director

Text

“Dum Spiro Spero”                         (While I breathe, I hope.)

Follow one breath.
Go where it goes
down to the dark, 
past bone, 
past heart,
past hurt,
to light, 
to rest only a moment
in the strength of your soul’s cupped hands.

Hope is born here, 
hope is cradled, 
breathing itself, 
ready to rise
with your breath and return
through your heart
through your voice
through your song.

            ~ Brian Newhouse

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purchase options

SSA (download), SSA (print)