Rani Arbo (b. 1968)
Singer; Songwriter; Fiddler and guitarist
Works published by MoV
Crossing the Bar (SATB)
Crossing the Bar (SATB)
This setting of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s beautiful and moving poem was inspired by my husband’s grandmother, Elizabeth May. Its first words were the last words she spoke, at age 97, in her beloved home overlooking the Potomac River Valley in Maryland. The melody and arrangement echo the Episcopalian hymns I sang daily as a chorister at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York City, where I grew up. I am overjoyed that this song has found a home in the hospice choir movement in the US, and that it has travelled across the pond to singers in the UK and beyond. In England, the trio Craig, Morgan and Robson set the melody to a slightly different chordal structure (which I also enjoy) – a wonderful example of the folk process. The melody and harmonization in this collection is true to the original composition. (Rani Arbo)
This arrangement has been especially prepared by Rani Arbo, for Multitude of Voyces.
Rani Arbo (b. 1968)
Rani Arbo is a singer, songwriter, fiddler and guitarist best known for her work with the Americana bands Salamander Crossing (1991–2000) and Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem (2000– present), which collectively released ten albums on the Signature Sounds label. Crossing the Bar appears on two of those: Bottleneck Dreams (Salamander Crossing) and Some Bright Morning (Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem), in different versions. Both quartets toured North America extensively, performing at university and community arts centres, coffee houses, and folk and world music festivals. Arbo is also founder and director of the Middletown, Connecticut, Community Chorus and a regular teacher of harmony singing and choral workshops. (2021)
You can find out more about Alfred Lord Tennyson’s life and works here: https://tennysonsociety.com/