Judith Shatin

SATB Chorus

Composer's Note:

I Love is a setting of verse XXIX of the thirty in Gertrude Stein’s poem Before the Flowers of Friendship Faded Friendship Faded. Stein’s extended poem was inspired by Enfances , a poem by Georges Hugnet. Originally conceived as a translation of Hugnet’s poem, the transformation into her own piece led to a break in their friendship.  What drew me to this particular verse, quoted below in full, is its charming whimsy, its sudden twists and its linguistic and syntactic play. It is used by permission granted by the Estate of Gertrude Stein, through its Literary Executor, Mr. Stanford Gann, Jr. of Levin & Gann, P.A.  I Love was commissioned by the Illinois Wesleyan University Collegiate Choir, J. Scott Ferguson, conductor, and is dedicated to them. It was made possible by the Sylvia Monti Anderson Commissioned Choral Work Fund honoring Delta Omicron at Illinois Wesleyan University.