Everything

I saw a video of Alexander Hutchison reading his poem, Everything, shortly after his death in 2015. I immediately wanted to ally myself artistically with its direct, truthful message. The impact of some poetry is greater when heard aloud, and this is particularly true of Everything, perhaps because of the hypnotic repetition of the line: “everything is vanishing”. I set his poem so that women and men sing in the small vocal range they share. Together they may sound like a voice of humanity, not like sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. When the vocal sections alternate, changes in vocal colour in the same register may evoke a sense of disparate voices. The music expands between refrains to complement the many images in Hutchison’s text. Bells remind us of the temporal nature of existence, so frankly and lovingly expressed in this poem.

Everything was commissioned by the Vancouver Bach Choir. My thanks to Leslie Dala, Kathleen Allen and members of the Bach Choir. Text is used and reprinted with permission of Salt Publishing, UK.

- RS

Everything

Everything is racing 

    everything is vanishing

Everything is hosted 

    everything is vanishing

Everything in the world that's seen 

    everything is vanishing

All the angels rise and sing 

    everything is vanishing

Everything that's clothed or bare 

    everything is vanishing

Anything for a second there 

    everything is vanishing

Everything is racing 

    everything is vanishing

Everything is hosted 

    everything is vanishing

Music, lovers, pillowslips 

    everything is vanishing

Lightning, thunder, hail and rain 

    everything is vanishing

In the mountains, on the streets 

    everything is vanishing

Scissors, paper, rocks, hands 

    everything is vanishing

Everything is racing 

    everything is vanishing

Everything is hosted 

    everything is vanishing

The fox at night, the birds aloft 

    everything is vanishing

Speedwell, crocus, lotus, rose 

    everything is vanishing

With arms spread wide 

    everything is vanishing

With soft foot-fall 

    everything is vanishing

Everything is racing 

    everything is vanishing

Everything is hosted 

    everything is vanishing

Hear it now, see me now 

    everything is racing 

        everything is vanishing

Love each other, love each other 

    everything is hosted 

        everything is vanishing

© Alexander Hutchison