The Music of Elizabeth Alexander

Works about Gratitude

Title

Poet/Lyricist

Voicing/Instrumentation

Level

A Love Like That (individual song)
A tender ballad of unconditional love
Poet/Lyricist: Hafiz / Daniel Ladinsky
  • Low voice, piano
  • Medium voice, piano
  • High voice, piano
Level: M
A Love Like That: Songs of Unconditional Love
Six songs full of wholehearted grace, generosity and awe
Poet/Lyricist: Silsbee, Emerson, Hafiz, Alexander, White
  • Low voice, piano
  • Medium voice, piano
  • High voice, piano
Level: Various
Be Grateful, My Soul
A passionate testament to life’s worth, even when facing adversity and oppression
Poet/Lyricist: Norbert Čapek
  • SSAA a cappella OR 5-part canon
Level: M
Before the Bread
A gracious canon setting of a traditional English blessing
Poet/Lyricist: English folk prayer
  • 2 or 4 part treble choir a cappella
  • SATB a cappella
  • Community / Congregational Song
Level: ME
I’ll Go Alone
An affirmation of faith during difficult times
Poet/Lyricist: Evelyn K. Dudley
  • SSAA a cappella
  • SATB a cappella
  • TTBB a cappella
Level: MA
May This Be a Working Alleluia
A “roll up your sleeves” embrace of gratitude, work, healing and joy
Poet/Lyricist: Elizabeth Alexander
  • SATB + children’s choir, piano, opt. flute and trumpets
Level: M
Only a Couple Fishes
An animated retelling of the “loaves and fishes” story, with generosity at its core
Poet/Lyricist: Elizabeth Alexander
  • SA, piano
Level: ME
Song of the Five Thousand
A canonic table grace with abundance, gratitude and generosity at its core
Poet/Lyricist: Elizabeth Alexander
  • Flexible choral voicing
  • Community / Congregational Song
Level: E
We Give Thanks for Being
A song of gratitude and community for all ages
Poet/Lyricist: Traditional
  • Flexible voicing: 1-4 pt. choir
Level: ME
We Lift Up Our Hearts
An intergenerational song of thanksgiving appropriate for religious or secular occasions
Poet/Lyricist: Richard Fewkes
  • SATB + children’s choir, piano
Level: E
We Remember Them
A tender embrace of those we have loved and lost
Poet/Lyricist: Rabbis Sylvan Kamens / Jack Riemer
  • SATB, piano
Level: M