Mona Arshi’s beautiful poem Tender unfolds in a series of keenly observed reminiscences, inspired by her experiences of watching her baby daughters sleeping. Russell Hepplewhite’s score traces the poet’s flowing lines in expansive melodic phrases, while journeying between familiar and more ambiguous harmonic territories. The composer’s deft manipulation of musical time vividly portrays a dream-like state of surfacing recollections. Approachable for all ability levels, and with lyrics from an award-winning poet, Tender is an intimate reflection on the joys of early parenthood and the elusive nature of memory.

Tender is one of ten new poems commissioned and set to music by Russell Hepplewhite in his landmark choral anthology Living Voices, published by Stainer & Bell. See here for more information on the other pieces in the collection.