Mystery

Sara Teasdale's poem, The Mystery, depicts deep lasting love - “Your eyes drink of me" and “We have long been lovers". It also raises a question - “Can I ever know you / Or you know me?" Stephen Chatman's expressive setting begins with a unison melody, supported by modulating harmonies in the piano accompaniment, and evolves toward four-part voices. The middle section, featuring rising vocal lines in imitative counterpoint, precedes a return to the initial melody. One of a set of six of Teasdale's love songs.