Audio Sample
Performed by the Byron Nelson High School Tenor Bass choir, conducted by John Sikon
This evocative work combines ethereal harmonies and hauntingly poetic text to create a chilling yet beautiful musical experience.
Set in a mysterious, shadowy world, The Haunting explores themes of lingering spirits and the echoes of the past. Through intricate vocal lines, performers depict lost souls wandering in the midnight haze and whispers of history filling the air. The piano accompaniment enhances the spectral atmosphere, moving fluidly between gentle whispers and dramatic climaxes.
Musically, the piece employs dynamic contrasts, unexpected harmonic shifts, and carefully layered textures to bring the eerie narrative to life. It challenges the singers with moments of delicate phrasing, tight harmonies, and emotive storytelling, making it an excellent choice for choirs looking to explore dramatic and theatrical repertoire.
Perfect for any concert, *The Haunting* invites audiences on a journey through a realm where the past and present collide, leaving them enthralled by its mysterious beauty.
— Preface written by Ashley Dame
The Haunting
Voicing: TBB
Difficulty: Medium to advanced
Text by: Ashley Dame
Text:
Deep in the wild,
The shadow of a child,
Soft voices fill the air.
Songs once were bright,
But now in dark of night,
the spirits linger there.
Through the halls of time they roam,
Speaking whispers of the past.
In the labyrinth of the world
is a chilling remnant cast.
Lost souls raised,
In the midnight haze,
They wander in the gloom.
Why their plea?
Spirits once set free,
your fate must meet its tomb.
In the kingdom of the veils,
They move with hallowed souls.
Soon with the dawn at break of day
the bell of the shadow tolls.
Do you hear it?
Do you feel it?
Lonesome spirits cry!
We won’t leave you!
Here, with the sun,
All the shadows are done;
It will soon be as before.
Twelve hours nigh, the day rolls by
and the souls will arise once more.
Songs once were bright, but now in dark of night the spirits linger there.