When Lost in the Forest
Joelle Wallach
About this work:
When Lost in the Forest is one of Wallach's Spiritual Speculations, a series of short choral works exploring the dilemmas of conscience in a flawed world. The piece is based on a poem by David Wagoner and reflects the Pacific Northwest Indians' reliance on the wisdom of nature,on stillness and silence.
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.
David Wagoner
Year composed: 2009
Duration: 00:05:00
Ensemble type: Chorus, with or without Solo Voices:Chorus, Unaccompanied
Instrumentation: 1 S, 1 A, 1 T, 1 B