Stephen Collins Foster (1826-1864) is considered to be America’s first truly gifted professional songwriter and his music an essential component of America’s cultural heritage. His 285 songs, hymns, arrangements and instrumental works are characterized by moving melodies and simple harmonies and many of his popular melodies such as Oh! Susanna (1848), Camptown Races (1850), Swanee River (1851) and My Old Kentucky Home (1853) will certainly endure forever. Foster sought to humanize the characters in his songs, and to convey a sense that all people—regardless of their race or socioeconomic class—share the same longings and needs for family and home.

When I first heard Slumber My Darling I was immediately motivated to score it for band. With music and lyrics both composed by Foster in 1862 its elegantly simple and lyrical melody allow for a variety of colors and textures including low woodwinds, predominant melodic material played by low brass and low woodwinds, solo voices, and flowing counterpoint. The contrasting interlude includes short quotes of other Foster songs and should carry the listener, not to sleep, but into a realm of exuberance and gratitude. The keyboard percussion at the beginning and end of the setting reminds one of a wind-up music box that gradually slows down and never finishes exactly at the right place in the music. It is my hope that each new generation of America continues to hear, learn and perform his wonderful songs and to never forget the contributions of Stephen Foster.