Whispering Hope

Flute and Piano

by

Rhonda Larson

melody by Alice Hawthorne, 1868

Notes:

This is one of the first pieces of music I ever played, beginning at age 10, following every great Holiday dinner at my grandparent’s house. My grandma (Nana) played piano, I played the flute, and my mother would sing the words with her beautiful voice. It was my grandfathers favorite piece, and since he was 20 years older than my grandmother, we made sure he got to hear it plenty of times! It has remained my personal favorite all my life, as well. I feel it is important to include the first verse of the words, since I cannot help but ‘sing’ them while I play the flute line. It reminds me of the saying, “Musician’s get to pray twice: once through the music, again through the meaning of words”. Although this is not a hymn, per se, it lifts the heart just as beautifully.

"Soft as the voice of an angel, breathing a lesson unheard—Hope, with a gentle persuasion, Whispers her comforting word: (Meas. 29) wait, till the darkness is over, wait till the tempest is done---Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, after the shower is gone. (Refrain, letter C, and D): Whispering Hope, oh how welcome thy voice, (meas. 55, and 71) making my heart-in its sorrow rejoice!"

Alice Hawthorne:

Alice Hawthorne was quite a prolific composer in the late 1800’s. However, it turns out that “she” was none other than Mr. Septimus Winner, having adopted the female name as one of his many pseudonymns. He was most popular for his ballads published under the pseudonym of Alice Hawthorne.

----Rhonda, July 2006

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