Chorus Day – Mornings Innocent

We did quite a few Gwyneth Walker songs in Glee Club (and also in the Chapel Hill Community Chorus). Mornings Innocent is one of my favorites, performed at our Spring 2002 concert. Gwyneth Walker has arranged a lot of beautiful pieces for women’s voices. Her style is pretty distinct — one minute slow and contemplative, the next minute upbeat and energetic.

This song is a musical setting of a poem by May Swenson.

I wear your smile upon my lips
arising on mornings innocent
Your laughter overflows my throat
Your skin is a fleece about me
With your princely walk I salute the sun
People say I am handsome

Arising on mornings innocent
birds make the sound of kisses
Leaves flicker light and dark like eyes

I melt beneath the magnet of your gaze
Your husky breath insinuates my ear
Alert and fresh as grass I wake

and rise on mornings innocent
The strands of the wrestler
run golden through my limbs
I cleave the air with insolent ease
With your princely walk I salute the sun
People say I am handsome