ME = Moderately Easy
M = Medium
MD = Moderately Difficult
D = Difficult
Cherish Your Doubt (E. Alexander)
SATB, piano - SEA-063-01 - $2.50/copy SSAA, piano - SEA-063-02 - $2.50/copy5 minutes - M SSAA arrangment commissioned by Vox Femina Los Angeles, artistic director Iris Levine "We performed it last month, and loved every minute of learning and performing it." -Nancy Starr, Director of Music, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church (Oak Ridge, TN)
This one-of-a-kind song harnesses the immediacy and energy of gospel singing, in an affirmation of that most important component of belief: doubt. A soulful opening solo leads gradually into the body of the piece, a choral statement with solid rhythms, textural variety, and carefully voiced jazz harmonies. Its original lyrics are smart and incisive, and include subtle references to writings by a host of famous doubters from a variety of religious traditions.
If desired, this song can be performed with a drummer and upright bass. Bass Part (pdf download)
SATB - Score (excerpt)SSAA - Score (excerpt)
SSAA (with drummer and bass) - Recording
(MP3, 2.7 MB, performed by Vox Femina Los Angeles ~ Iris Levine, conductor ~ Suede, alto solo)
SATB - Recording
(MP3, 1.2 MB, sung by Unity Church-Unitarian Choir of St. Paul, MN
Ruth Palmer, conductor ~ Shirley Leiphon, soprano solo ~ Elizabeth Alexander, piano) A complete recording of this
piece is now available
on the CD:
Finally On My Way To Yes
(MP3, 2.7 MB, performed by Vox Femina Los Angeles ~ Iris Levine, conductor ~ Suede, alto solo)
SATB - Recording
(MP3, 1.2 MB, sung by Unity Church-Unitarian Choir of St. Paul, MN
Ruth Palmer, conductor ~ Shirley Leiphon, soprano solo ~ Elizabeth Alexander, piano) A complete recording of this
piece is now available
on the CD:
Finally On My Way To Yes
Cherish Your Doubt is also a movement from Go Out! - A Musical Celebration of Liberal Religion and Freedom of Thought
Cherish Your Doubt
Solo:
Springtime without winter would enter with a yawn,
Dawn without the night would be a tedium of light.
Reunion follows parting, and rebirth follows death,
And our songs of love have grown
From the very seeds our doubt have sown.
Without a doubt, our hearts and minds would never grow,
Without a doubt, our dreams would have nowhere to go,
Without a doubt, we'd never change the status quo.
Yes, without a doubt, we'd be hanging on
To notions that are better gone,
So try to love the questions,
Those thorny, thorny questions.
Trust your intuition, and cherish your doubt.
Chorus:
Cherish your doubt, don't throw it out.
That's what true belief is about.
With a faith both tempered and strong,
Questioning only helps it along,
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don't throw it out, don't throw it out ---
Cherish your doubt.
Cherish your doubt, don't throw it out.
Mighty oaks can weather a drought.
Any faith worth taking to heart,
Tested a bit, will not fall apart.
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don't throw it out, don't throw it out ---
Cherish your doubt.
(Don't be afraid of what you'll find.
Leave your darkest fears behind.)
Cherish your doubt, don't throw it out.
That's one thing you can't do without.
When you walk that less-traveled route,
Wonderful new ideas may sprout.
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don't throw it out, don't throw it out ---
Cherish your doubt.
(Call on your reason and compassion, although it may not be in fashion.
Don't be afraid of what you'll find, just leave your fears behind.)
Cherish your doubt, don't you ever refuse it;
You can move a whole mountain if you use it ---
Cherish your doubt.
(A different drummer you will hear when you cherish your doubt.
You haven't anything to fear when you cherish your doubt.)
That's what true belief is about --- don't throw it out!
Copyright by Elizabeth Alexander. The phrase "Cherish your doubt" is used by permission of Richard Weston.
Solo:
Springtime without winter would enter with a yawn,
Dawn without the night would be a tedium of light.
Reunion follows parting, and rebirth follows death,
And our songs of love have grown
From the very seeds our doubt have sown.
Without a doubt, our hearts and minds would never grow,
Without a doubt, our dreams would have nowhere to go,
Without a doubt, we'd never change the status quo.
Yes, without a doubt, we'd be hanging on
To notions that are better gone,
So try to love the questions,
Those thorny, thorny questions.
Trust your intuition, and cherish your doubt.
Chorus:
Cherish your doubt, don't throw it out.
That's what true belief is about.
With a faith both tempered and strong,
Questioning only helps it along,
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don't throw it out, don't throw it out ---
Cherish your doubt.
Cherish your doubt, don't throw it out.
Mighty oaks can weather a drought.
Any faith worth taking to heart,
Tested a bit, will not fall apart.
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don't throw it out, don't throw it out ---
Cherish your doubt.
(Don't be afraid of what you'll find.
Leave your darkest fears behind.)
Cherish your doubt, don't throw it out.
That's one thing you can't do without.
When you walk that less-traveled route,
Wonderful new ideas may sprout.
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don't throw it out, don't throw it out ---
Cherish your doubt.
(Call on your reason and compassion, although it may not be in fashion.
Don't be afraid of what you'll find, just leave your fears behind.)
Cherish your doubt, don't you ever refuse it;
You can move a whole mountain if you use it ---
Cherish your doubt.
(A different drummer you will hear when you cherish your doubt.
You haven't anything to fear when you cherish your doubt.)
That's what true belief is about --- don't throw it out!
Copyright by Elizabeth Alexander. The phrase "Cherish your doubt" is used by permission of Richard Weston.
Cherish Your Doubt (SATB) - Score SSAA - Score
Scorch was designed by the folks who built Sibelius notation software, as a simple way to allow Sibelius scores to become webpages. Despite its slightly ominous name, Scorch is free, is not excessively large (approx. 1 MB), and does not do anything demonic like put you on a mailing list or affect other computer programs. - E.A.
If you can't see the score after the file finishes loading, click here to download the Scorch plug-in.
If you can't see the score after the file finishes loading, click here to download the Scorch plug-in.
Cherish Your Doubt (SSAA) - Score SATB - Score
Scorch was designed by the folks who built Sibelius notation software, as a simple way to allow Sibelius scores to become webpages. Despite its slightly ominous name, Scorch is free, is not excessively large (approx. 1 MB), and does not do anything demonic like put you on a mailing list or affect other computer programs. - E.A.
If you can't see the score after the file finishes loading, click here to download the Scorch plug-in.
If you can't see the score after the file finishes loading, click here to download the Scorch plug-in.