This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Amboy
Staff Notation • Sacred
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Barry Johnston
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Amboy by Daniel Read — Lyrics
I am not concerned to know
What tomorrow fate will do:
Tis enough that I can say
I've possess'd myself today:
Then, if haply midnightdeath
Seize my flesh and stop my breath,
Yet tomorrow I shall be
Heir to the best part of me.
Glittering stones, and golden things,
Wealth and honors that have wings,
Ever fluttering to be gone,
I could never call my own.
Riches that the world bestows,
She can take and I can lose;
But the treasures that are mine
Lie afar beyond her line.
When I view my spacious soul,
And survey myself awhole,
And enjoy my self alone,
I'm a kingdom of my own.
I've a mighty part within,
That the world hath never seen;
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About Amboy
This setting of an English text, Amboy, is for SATB choir. The music opens with a sense of quiet assurance, as the voices enter in a gentle homophonic texture, setting the scene for the thoughtful reflection that follows. The composer Daniel Read crafts a piece that explores the inner life, contrasting fleeting worldly possessions with enduring spiritual wealth. The lyrics speak of a profound self-possession, an internal kingdom that cannot be diminished by external fortune or misfortune. The SATB voicing allows for rich harmonic exploration as the choir contemplates the intangible treasures of the soul, presenting a message of contentment and self-sufficiency that transcends material concerns.
