Tompkins, Meredith: The Tree-Maker

In this setting of Abbie Farwell Brown's poetry, Tompkins transforms Brown’s simple rhyme scheme into a vibrant interplay of homophonic and polyphonic textures. Centered around the second scale degree, the music dances between Dorian, major, and minor tonalities. Ideal for intermediate to early advanced choirs, the piece encourages techniques such as accented singing, tone color shifts, and independent phrasing. The piano accompaniment is sparse but supportive, making the work suitable for a cappella performance with rehearsed harmonic grounding. With its upbeat, positive nature, this piece is a perfect concert opener or closer, offering opportunities to explore deeper themes of kindness, growth, and lasting impact.