I Dream a World

In his poem I Dream a World, Langston Hughes outlines both a dream-vision, and the conditions that this vision can heal. This setting follows the form of the poem's four stanzas by setting them to the same music, though subtly varied, and leading to a climactic passage on the words “And joy, like a pearl, attend the needs of all mankind: Of such a world I dream!" Hughes reminds us that joy, like a pearl, is hard-won and rare, but worth the struggle.

The choral parts are lyrical and emotive, with occasional divisi in all parts. Can be done with the piano-four-hands accompaniment that appears in the choral score, or with string orchestra (4-4-3-3-2). Duration: 4:33