My Forever Friend by Benjamin Dia

Text by James Perry Weiler

It seemed like yesterday and it’s been longer, we know

That we’ve shared a friendship that just seemed to grow

And even in all this time have I found anyone I ‘d rather spend

Time with, just sharing, like we do my forever friend

Read by Diane Skeel

A Song of You by Trevor F. Shaw

Text by Stephen Hope

From the winds in the trees

Comes a flowing melody

That echoes lyrics new

The songs of birds

In keys unheard

They sing a song of you

The crickets singing

Through woodland bringing

The waves, the rain, the dew

A sound doth echo

Through field and meadow

It sings a song of you

And so, my love

By stars above

I swear by land and sea

I've felt this way never

I'll feel it forever

My friend you'll always be

Program note

The text for "A Song of You" was provided to me by Sherrille Reed, who received the poem as a gift from Stephen Hope, a dear college friend. He had always intended for the poem to become song lyrics, so it felt natural for me to express the imagery through music. The version being performed is, in fact, my first and only draft. I was especially taken with the lyrical phrase "the songs of birds in keys unheard", which inspired me to weave in and out of musical keys throughout. By doing so, it was my aim to add as much color into roughly three minutes as possible. I am grateful to Sherrille for trusting me with the honor of adapting these personally meaningful words, which reflect such beauty and sincerity.

Trevor F. Shaw

July 2024

Please Mr. Postman by Georgia Dobbins, Brian Holland, Freddie Gorman, Robert Bateman, and William Garrett

Text

(Stop)

Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman

(Wait)

Wait Mister Postman

Please Mister Postman, look and see

(Oh yeah)

If there's a letter in your bag for me

(Please, Please Mister Postman)

Why's it takin' such a long time

(Oh yeah)

For me to hear from that boy of mine

There must be some word today

From my boyfriend so far away

Please Mister Postman, look and see

If there's a letter, a letter for me

I've been standin' here waitin' Mister Postman

So patiently

For just a card, or just a letter

Sayin' he's returnin' home to me

(Mister Postman)

Mister Postman, look and see

(Oh yeah)

If there's a letter in your bag for me

(Please, Please Mister Postman)

Why's it takin' such a long time

(Oh yeah)

For me to hear from that boy of mine

So many days you passed me by

See the tears standin' in my eyes

You didn't stop to make me feel better

By leavin' me a card or a letter

(Mister Postman)

Mister Postman, look and see

(Oh yeah)

If there's a letter in your bag for me

(Please, Please Mister Postman)

Why's it takin' such a long time

(Why don't you check it and see one more time for me, you gotta)

Wait a minute

Wait a minute

Wait a minute

Wait a minute

(Mister Postman)

Mister Postman, look and see

(C'mon deliver the letter, the sooner the better)

Mister Postman

Enjoy beer and pretzels!

You Make My Heart So Thankful

Music by Marjorie Halloran

Text by Jaime Ramirez

Mom— 

This card pretty much says it all. 

Things like death are so humanizing

and I’ve made a promise to myself 

to appreciate more, 

complain less, 

and love fully. 

I’m more than grateful 

for every second 

I get to be your daughter. 

I will never not need guidance, no matter how smart you think I am, and I won’t hesitate to ask, no matter how smart I think I am. 

You make my heart so thankful

I love you so much,

Jaime 

Program note

The older I get, the more I appreciate my parents, and the more impressed I am with all the wisdom they have to impart. Now that I know the secret-- that no grown-up actually knows what they're doing most of the time!-- I have a lot more respect for Mom and Dad and how much they've taught me over the years. We should all aspire to appreciate more, complain less, and love fully.

Read by Elise Ragland

Dear Madam by Jacob Beal

Text by Abraham Lincoln

Dear Madam,--

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

Read by Jim Nasby

P. S. I Love You by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Text

As I write this letter

Send my love to you

Remember that I'll always

Be in love with you

Treasure these few words till we're together

Keep all my love forever

P.S. I love you

You, you, you

I'll be coming home again to you, love

And till the day I do, love

P.S. I love you

You, you, you

As I write this letter

Send my love to you

Remember that I'll always

Be in love with you

Treasure these few words till we're together

Keep all my love forever

P.S. I love you

You, you, you

As I write this letter (Oh)

Send my love to you (You know I want you to)

Remember that I'll always (Yeah)

Be in love with you

I'll be coming home again to you, love

And till the day I do, love

P.S. I love you

You, you, you

You, you, you

I love you

Enjoy beer and pretzels!

Read by Lissa Anderson

You Wear It Well by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton

Text

I had nothing to do on this hot afternoon

But to settle down and write you a line

I've been meaning to phone you but from Minnesota

Hell it's been a very long time

You wear it well

A little old fashioned but that's all right

Well I suppose you're thinking I bet he's sinking

Or he wouldn't get in touch with me

Oh I ain't begging or losing my head

I sure do want you to know that you wear it well

There ain't a lady in the land so fine

Remember them basement parties, your brother's karate

The all day rock and roll shows

Them homesick blues and radical views

Haven't left a mark on you, you wear it well

A little out of time but I don't mind

But I ain't forgetting that you were once mine

But I blew it without even tryin'

Now I'm eatin' my heart out

Tryin' to get a letter through

Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on

I'm gonna write about the birthday gown that I bought in town

When you sat down and cried on the stairs

You knew it did not cost the earth, but for what it's worth

You made me feel a millionaire and you wear it well

Madame Onassis got nothing on you

Anyway, my coffee's cold and I'm getting told

That I gotta get back to work

So when the sun goes low and you're home all alone

Think of me and try not to laugh and I wear it well

I don't object if you call collect

'Cause I ain't forgetting that you were once mine

But I blew it without even tryin'

Now I'm eatin' my heart out tryin' to get back to you

I love you, I love you, I love you

After all the years I hope it's the same address

Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on

A Letter To You by Evan Blaché

Text by Thomas Kolenda

To my Daughter Erin:​

I want you to believe deep in your heart that you can accomplish all that you desire and be happy at the same time.  

For you are a gift to those around you.  Lovely, sweet, brilliant, giving and oh so strong!

You never lose, you either win or learn.  

And you usually win! Amazing person you are.  

Go forward honey and aim higher than all the rest.  You’ll achieve your dreams.

I wish I could promise to be here all of your life.  But, I will promise to love you the rest of mine.

Daddy-oh!​​​

Program note

I felt very honored to get to write this piece using the letter from Thomas Kolenda to his daughter. Seeing the sweetness and love he had for his daughter made me want to convey those feelings he had the best I could. I had such a wonderful time working on this piece.

Read by Adrienne Inglis

Letters to Faith by Adrienne Inglis (ASCAP)

Soloists — Kathy Leighton, Jeffrey Jones-Ragona

Text by Ruth Penfield Inglis and Capt. John Percy Inglis

I. The Sunshine of Your Smile

November 3

Dear Little Baby-Girl

Don't you dare feel discouraged! Those tests I suppose are necessary in this painfully efficient age. 

Shucks, who cares about brilliance as compared with The Sunshine of Your Smile. 

I know I couldn’t pass one of those tests either, but I'm happy and I know my family loves me and couldn’t get along without me! 

So why worry? 

Anyway, it doesn’t signify that you are not intelligent, Dad says. 

Of course Lizabeth would probably pass such a test with flying colors, 

but then no one ever told her that she had “musicianship” and she would love to have it. 

You are just different. 

The Sunshine of Your Smile

Dear Little Baby-Girl

II. Music

Peg, our “comfort” would not rank high either way, but she has still other abilities and what a treasure she is. 

You are just different. 

There are many things which cannot be card indexed which are the most valuable in the long run.

Discouragement will do more harm than almost anything; so don’t entertain it, dear. 

Come right back to the top of the wave where you belong and just refuse to accept the verdict which that paper seemed to give. 

If you are carrying too much we must shave off the least important, 

but that will not be mu-sic.

Stuart, always a help, wrote a message on your envelope, to tell you he loves you.

I must go and bake cookies and do the rest of the morning work. 

It is so wonderful in the sunshine here on the porch. I hate to leave it but “duty” calls.

III. Climbing Mountains

Wednesday November 2, 1927

Dearest Faith, cheerio. 

Most everybody has mountains to climb or dark corners to scout out.  

Keep a stiff upper lip and don't be frightened but accept the challenge.

You know of the song "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"? 

I sometimes sing it "I'm forever climbing mountains."

Send me a schedule of your day showing each day and from the time you get up till you go to bed. 

Class and study time, piano playing time, et cetera. 

What we are most anxious about is of course your music and we want to group things around that. 

But Bravo, fling into the battle!

We all love and will help.

Lovingly, Dad

IV. Broiled Lobster

Sunday, Dad and I stayed at the Penfield’s a little longer, 

then we went to "The Good Ship Mary Ann” for half a broiled lobster, 

then we drove downtown in L. A., to see the lights, 

the windows and the people. 

It’s always fun. 

I had not been down for so long, and Dad seldom gets into that attractive part of town, 

his trips taking him to the warehouse and board of education rooms. 

Loving you always little Joy! 

And thankful for you just as you are.

Mother

When Duke yawns, Stuart says, “He whistled!”

Program note

Letters to Faith, originally an eight-voice a cappella choral work and revised in 2024 for SATB and piano, sets to music two letters written by the composer's grandparents to their daughter, Faith Inglis, while she was a student at Pomona College. Faith's parents wrote these letters to comfort and encourage her after a poor showing on an exam, but unwittingly revealed amusing and poignant family characteristics. 

The letters mention three well known songs of the day: The Sunshine of Your Smile, I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, and The Good Ship Mary Ann. Elements of these songs are woven into the piece, allowing early twentieth century popular harmonies to blend with modern sounds, reaching back ninety years with a heartfelt genealogical family hug.

Family background: 

--Faith's passion and talent for music led her to a career as a voice teacher and choir director. 

--Faith's mother, Ruth Penfield Inglis, had suffered from a brain tumor since her teenage years. 

--Her brother, pioneering neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield, operated on her in 1928, extending her life until she died July 14, 1931, less than four years after these letters were written.

--Faith's father, John Percy Inglis, served in World War I as an army captain, and then had a career as a high school principal.

--Peg was Faith's gentle and soft-spoken sister.

--Lib or Lizabeth was Faith's ambitious and highly educated sister.

--Stuart, Faith's youngest brother, was the composer's father, not quite four years old at the time of these letters.

--Duke was the family dog.