The Dream Keeper

  
    Composed in:
    2023
  
    Text by:
    Langston Hughes
  
    Instrumentation:
    Bass-baritone and Piano (also Baritone, Mezzo-soprano, and High Voice versions)
  
    Vocal Range:
    Bass-baritone: G2-E4

      Baritone: Bb2-G4

      Mezzo-soprano: Bb3-G5

      High Voice: C4-A5 or C3-A4
  
    Commissioned by:
    Prima Voce Emerging Artists
for Shyheim Selvan Hinnant and Brent McMunn
  
    Premiered by:
    Shyheim Selvan Hinnant, bass-baritone
Brent McMunn, piano
  
    Publisher:
    C. Swigart Music

Media

The Dream Keeper

(Original title: Dream Variations)

The Dream Keeper

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.

Dream Variations

To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me—
That is my dream!

To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening . . .
A tall, slim tree . . .
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.

Stars

O, sweep of stars over Harlem streets,
O, little breath of oblivion that is night.
           A city building
           To a mother’s song.
          A city dreaming
           To a lullaby.
Reach up your hand, dark boy, and take a star.
Out of the little breath of oblivion
           That is night,
           Take just
           One star

—Langston Hughes

poems all in public domain