Revery

"Revery" by Sean Ivory is based on the poem of the same title by African-American poet Fenton Johnson. "Revery" was commissioned in memory of Katherine Parker, a former student of the Rockford High School choir program in Rockford, Michigan. The composer wanted to capture the essence of a passionate singer whose life was cut tragically short. "Revery" was premiered in March, 2025 in the presence of Katherine's family. There are musical nods to Star Trek and Harry Potter, of which Katherine was a huge fan. This piece is ideal for advanced high school or collegiate ensembles. Choirs will enjoy working on text expressivity, balancing melodic lines which shift among all voices with beautiful harmonies, and building to a dramatic climax. "Revery" concludes with eight short solos based on the opening motif of the piece, sung while the choir intones the words "I was love." It is up to the performers how to assign these solos, whether to 8 separate singers, or fewer singers taking 2 or more solos. "Revery" can be programmed equally well in the context of remembrance or in celebration of life and creativity.