In the moonlight

Joseph Joachim Raff, a prolific 19th-century composer, penned this atmospheric setting of a German poem. The text, translated into English, evokes a tranquil nocturnal scene, beginning with shimmering mountains and valleys bathed in moonlight. As the song progresses, the quietude is broken only by the gentle murmur of fountains, the whisper of flowers, and the awakening of a bird. This imagery culminates in the expression of profound emotion, with a bird's song full of longing and the singer's eyes filling with sweet tears. Raff's SATB arrangement captures this mood of tender melancholy and romantic reflection, making it a poignant choice for secular choral programming.