Soprano & Piano
2015
Length: 4′

Premiere

Erin Ridge, soprano; Natalie Vlach, piano – Blair School of Music – April 8, 2015

Program Note

              The text for Although the fig tree blossom not is an excerpt from John Piper’s poem, “For Noel on Our 20th Wedding Anniversary.” The except itself quotes Habakkuk 3:17-19: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” Piper’s poetic adaptation of this text begins a poem celebrating his 20th anniversary, and I turn used this text on the eve of my own wedding, in anticipation of marriage and the rollercoaster than life can be. This song is dedicated to my husband, Kevin.