Two Butterflies went out at Noon (2017)

DURATION
5 minutes

INSTRUMENTATION
women’s chorus

PREMIÈRE
April 29, 2017, St. Michael’s Church, NY.

Two Butterflies went Out at Noon was a commissioned piece by Michael Karsher’s Young New Yorkers’ Chorus.

The text, Emily Dickinson’s “Two Butterflies went Out at Noon” was written sometime between 1830-1886, published in 1924, and is in the public domain.

Two Butterflies went out at Noon

Two Butterflies went out at Noon—
And waltzed above a Farm— 
Then stepped straight through the Firmament 
And rested on a Beam— 

And then—together bore away
Upon a shining Sea— 
Though never yet, in any Port— 
Their coming mentioned—be— 

If spoken by the distant Bird—
If met in Ether Sea
By Frigate, or by Merchantman—
No notice—was—to me—

Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886