Go Forth
for two-part choir and piano
can be performed SA, TB, SATB, or unison if you omit part 2
Go Forth was written in honor of Dr. Brent C. Talbot, who served as artistic director of the Gettysburg Children’s Choir for twelve years. During this time, he led the choir to become stronger than it has ever been. Under his direction, the singers of Gettysburg Children’s Choir grew immensely as musicians and people. The life-changing choral art that Dr. Talbot facilitated cannot be overstated.
As he approached the end of his tenure, I was reflecting on how much Dr. Talbot has had an impact on my life. He has created amazing opportunities for my compositional voice to be heard through Gettysburg Children’s Choir, for which I will be forever grateful. What better way to honor him than to write a new piece that celebrates all he has done for our choral community?
I recruited our students and families to help by sending me lessons that Dr. Talbot has taught us that we will never forget. Their words became the inspiration for the text and music, which we learned in secret and performed as a surprise for Dr. Talbot in his last concert. The love that our students poured out through this piece was one of the most powerful musical experiences of my life. May your performance of this piece pour out that love for those who mean as much to you as Dr. Talbot means to Gettysburg Children’s Choir.
As he approached the end of his tenure, I was reflecting on how much Dr. Talbot has had an impact on my life. He has created amazing opportunities for my compositional voice to be heard through Gettysburg Children’s Choir, for which I will be forever grateful. What better way to honor him than to write a new piece that celebrates all he has done for our choral community?
I recruited our students and families to help by sending me lessons that Dr. Talbot has taught us that we will never forget. Their words became the inspiration for the text and music, which we learned in secret and performed as a surprise for Dr. Talbot in his last concert. The love that our students poured out through this piece was one of the most powerful musical experiences of my life. May your performance of this piece pour out that love for those who mean as much to you as Dr. Talbot means to Gettysburg Children’s Choir.
Here is a place where we all can belong,
Accepted, respected, and seen.
Here in this place with a smile and a song
Discovering who we will be.
Leading with compassion and learning every day.
Sparking inspiration when we hear you say:
“Go forth! You lead and we follow, go forth!
And make your tomorrow the brightest of days.
Be an agent of change.
And wherever you go, go forth!”
You are a person that means so much to all.
You encourage us, show us we’re strong.
Stepping our of our comfort zone,
We break down our walls.
A power that was there all along.
Through your dedication we blossom and we grow.
Hear our declamation the world needs to know.
To thank you for everything you brought us,
We honor you by living what you taught us.
Go forth! You lead and we follow, go forth!
And make your tomorrow the brightest of days.
Be an agent of change.
In our hearts always you are here to stay.
And wherever you go, go forth!
Accepted, respected, and seen.
Here in this place with a smile and a song
Discovering who we will be.
Leading with compassion and learning every day.
Sparking inspiration when we hear you say:
“Go forth! You lead and we follow, go forth!
And make your tomorrow the brightest of days.
Be an agent of change.
And wherever you go, go forth!”
You are a person that means so much to all.
You encourage us, show us we’re strong.
Stepping our of our comfort zone,
We break down our walls.
A power that was there all along.
Through your dedication we blossom and we grow.
Hear our declamation the world needs to know.
To thank you for everything you brought us,
We honor you by living what you taught us.
Go forth! You lead and we follow, go forth!
And make your tomorrow the brightest of days.
Be an agent of change.
In our hearts always you are here to stay.
And wherever you go, go forth!