Celebration Series Archives - Aspen Hill Music

Thomas Hood’s poem, The Stars are with the Voyager, has inspired many lyric and lush choral settings of this text. As I read Hood’s story of “constant love,” I feel the inevitable promise found there, but also a sense of timeless adventure. At the beginning of this setting, the piano represents the rolling waves of the sea—relentless and full of energy—and the unyielding march of time. The fourth verse becomes contemplative following the setting of the sun and grows into the “brighter day” before a layering of the opening melody that moves into the distance.

The stars are with the voyager Wherever he may sail;
The moon is constant to her time; The sun will never fail;

But follow, follow round the world, The green earth and the sea,
So love is with the lover’s heart, Wherever he may be.

Wherever he may be, the stars Must daily lose their light;
The moon will veil her in the shade; The sun will set at night.

The sun may set, but constant love Will shine when he’s away;
So that dull night is never night, And day is brighter day.

–Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

From Dione Peterson Belling, June 17, 2016

Today I lost a childhood friend, the one I played hide and seek with, the one I giggled and laughed with, the one I shared secrets with, and the one I tried to learn to play softball with! As we got older our lives became more involved with music, school, and love.

I remember seeing her parents from time to time and inquired about her. They were always proud to fill me in on her latest happenings and that of her lovely family.

Many years passed but I would usually get a letter and a picture in the Christmas season updating me on her life. It always seemed that they were having beautiful warm weather and we were freezing up north. Then her health, my career, and my caregiving duties seemed to separate us for a time.

Lyle and I will miss the late evening phone calls that lasted for hours and had all of us laughing so hard I sometimes choked or cried. Life will be different, but Donna Belling Kolbeck is not gone from our lives….only her little fragile body.

May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus…

‘Tis winter now; the fallen snow
Has left the heav’ns all coldly clear;
Through leafless boughs the sharp winds blow,
And all the earth lies dead and drear.

And yet God’s love is not withdrawn;
His life within the keen air breathes,
His beauty paints the crimson dawn,
And clothes the boughs with glitt’ring wreaths.

And though abroad the sharp winds blow,
And skies are chill, and frosts are keen,
Home closer draws her circle now,
And warmer glows her light within.

O God! who giv’st the winter’s cold
As well as summer’s joyous rays,
Us warmly in Thy love enfold
And keep us through life’s wintry days.

The stars are with the voyager Wherever he may sail;
The moon is constant to her time; The sun will never fail;

But follow, follow round the world, The green earth and the sea,
So love is with the lover’s heart, Wherever he may be.

Wherever he may be, the stars Must daily lose their light;
The moon will veil her in the shade; The sun will set at night.

The sun may set, but constant love Will shine when he’s away;
So that dull night is never night, And day is brighter day.

–Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

This work was selected for performance at the NCCO 2022 National Conference.

From Dione Peterson Belling, June 17, 2016

Today I lost a childhood friend, the one I played hide and seek with, the one I giggled and laughed with, the one I shared secrets with, and the one I tried to learn to play softball with! As we got older our lives became more involved with music, school, and love.

I remember seeing her parents from time to time and inquired about her. They were always proud to fill me in on her latest happenings and that of her lovely family.

Many years passed but I would usually get a letter and a picture in the Christmas season updating me on her life. It always seemed that they were having beautiful warm weather and we were freezing up north. Then her health, my career, and my caregiving duties seemed to separate us for a time.

Lyle and I will miss the late evening phone calls that lasted for hours and had all of us laughing so hard I sometimes choked or cried. Life will be different, but Donna Belling Kolbeck is not gone from our lives….only her little fragile body.

May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus…

‘Tis winter now; the fallen snow Has left the heav’ns all coldly clear; Through leafless boughs the sharp winds blow, And all the earth lies dead and drear.

And yet God’s love is not withdrawn; His life within the keen air breathes, His beauty paints the crimson dawn, And clothes the boughs with glitt’ring wreaths.

And though abroad the sharp winds blow, And skies are chill, and frosts are keen, Home closer draws her circle now, And warmer glows her light within.

O God! who giv’st the winter’s cold As well as summer’s joyous rays, Us warmly in Thy love enfold And keep us through life’s wintry days.

The stars are with the voyager Wherever he may sail; The moon is constant to her time; The sun will never fail;

But follow, follow round the world, The green earth and the sea, So love is with the lover’s heart, Wherever he may be.

Wherever he may be, the stars Must daily lose their light; The moon will veil her in the shade; The sun will set at night.

The sun may set, but constant love Will shine when he’s away; So that dull night is never night, And day is brighter day.

–Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

This work was selected for performance at the NCCO 2022 National Conference.

‘Tis winter now; the fallen snow
Has left the heav’ns all coldly clear;
Through leafless boughs the sharp winds blow,
And all the earth lies dead and drear.

And yet God’s love is not withdrawn;
His life within the keen air breathes,
His beauty paints the crimson dawn,
And clothes the boughs with glitt’ring wreaths.

And though abroad the sharp winds blow,
And skies are chill, and frosts are keen,
Home closer draws her circle now,
And warmer glows her light within.

O God! who giv’st the winter’s cold
As well as summer’s joyous rays,
Us warmly in Thy love enfold
And keep us through life’s wintry days.

The stars are with the voyager Wherever he may sail;
The moon is constant to her time; The sun will never fail;

But follow, follow round the world, The green earth and the sea,
So love is with the lover’s heart, Wherever he may be.

Wherever he may be, the stars Must daily lose their light;
The moon will veil her in the shade; The sun will set at night.

The sun may set, but constant love Will shine when he’s away;
So that dull night is never night, And day is brighter day.