If I...

"If I..." is the fourth and final song of Lori Laitman's Four Dickinson Songs.

The composer's note one of the audio clips for "If I..." are made possible through a collaboration between the Hampsong Foundation and SongFest. The performers are Kaley Soderquist, soprano, and Hiroko Kanagawa, piano, and this performance took place at Pepperdine University at SongFest 2010.

Date: 1996Composer: Lori LaitmanText: Emily DickinsonSong Collection: Four Dickinson Songs

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Composer's Note

“I composed Four Dickinson Songs in the spring of 1996. The last song of the cycle, ‘If I…’ was composed as a gift for my father’s 80th birthday. Its simple, accessible melody passes from voice to piano and back again before ending with the singer humming. My father is now in good health at age 94.”

–Lori Laitman

Text

If I can stop one Heart from breaking (poem 919)
by Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

Related Information

Audio

Track:

    Sheet Music

    Four Dickinson Songs (High Key)

    Composer(s): Lori Laitman

    Song(s): 1. Will There Really Be a Morning?
    2. I'm Nobody
    3. She Died
    4. If I...

    Voice Type: High

    Buy via Classical Vocal Reprints

    Four Dickinson Songs (Low key)

    Composer(s): Lori Laitman

    Song(s): 1. Will There Really Be a Morning?
    2. I'm Nobody
    3. She Died
    4. If I...

    Voice Type: Low

    Buy via Classical Vocal Reprints

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