To go and rest with thee

Wind Band - Grade 3.5 - Performed by the SWOSU Wind Symphony; Marc Mueller, conductor

"Dr. Dennis C. Widen (1949-2014) was a beloved professor of piano, theory, and graduate studies at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK.  He passed away on October 16th, 2014 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.  Dr. Widen was a phenomenal teacher, mentor, counselor, and friend; he was loved and respected by all. He taught much more than lessons in music; he also taught lessons in life and was the “go-to” professor when any student had any sort of problem.  “To go and rest with thee” was written in his memory by Jackson Anderson, one of his piano students and a very close friend.  The title is taken from Emily Brontë’s poem “Stanzas” written in 1846.  The poem deals with the coming death of someone very close to the author.  The piece of music is meant to recall the feelings after death has taken someone very near:  the denial, the sadness, the longing to be together just one more time, and the hope that one day the two may be reunited.  Premiered by the SWOSU Wind Symphony in his honor, this piece is an emotional and musical tribute to an outstanding teacher, mentor, and all-around human being."  

Stanzas

I’ll not weep that thou art going to leave me, 

There’s nothing lovely here;

And doubly will the dark world grieve me,

While thy heart suffers there. 

I’ll not weep, because the summer’s glory

Must always end in gloom;

And, follow out the happiest story—

It closes with a tomb! 

And I am weary of the anguish

Increasing winters bear;

Weary to watch the spirit languish

Through years of dead despair. 

So, if a tear, when thou art dying,

Should haply fall from me,

It is but that my soul is sighing,

To go and rest with thee.

 - Emily Brontë (1846)