An accomplished composer, conductor and lecturer, Eric Whitacre has quickly become one of the most popular and performed composers of his generation. The Los Angeles Times has praised his compositions as "works of unearthly beauty and imagination, (with) electric, chilling harmonies"; while the BBC raves that "what hits you straight between the eyes is the honesty, optimism and sheer belief that passes any pretension. This is music that can actually make you smile.”
Though he had received no formal training before the age of 18, his first experiences singing in college choir changed his life, and he completed his first concert work, Go, Lovely, Rose, at the age of 21. Eric went on to the Juilliard School, earning his Master of Music degree and studying with Pulitzer Prize- and Oscar-winning composer John Corigliano.
Many of Whitacre's works have entered the standard choral and symphonic repertories and have become the subject of several recent scholarly works and doctoral dissertations. His works Water Night, Cloudburst, Sleep, Lux Aurumque and A Boy and a Girl are among the most popular choral works of the last decade, and his Ghost Train, Godzilla Eats Las Vegas, and October have achieved equal success in the symphonic wind community. To date, Whitacre's published works have received thousands of performances and have sold well over 750,000 copies worldwide. He has received composition awards from the Barlow International Composition Competition, the American Choral Directors Association and the American Composers Forum. In 2001, Whitacre became the youngest recipient ever awarded the coveted Raymond C. Brock commission by the American Choral Directors Association.
As a conductor, Whitacre has appeared with hundreds of professional and educational ensembles throughout the world. In the last ten years he has conducted concerts of his choral and symphonic music in Japan, Australia, China, Singapore, South America and much of Europe, as well as dozens of American universities and colleges where he regularly conducts seminars and lectures with young musicians. Over the past few years, these loyal fans and supporters have moved online, spreading Eric’s popularity to an ever-expanding worldwide audience. Upcoming commissions include works for The King’s Singers with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and an oratorio - featuring full orchestra, choir, and soloists – celebrating the opening of the new Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, TX.
His music has been featured on dozens of commercial and independent recordings. His first recording, The Music of Eric Whitacre, was hailed by The American Record Guide as one of the top ten classical albums of 1997. In 2006, a full collection of his a cappella music, Cloudburst and Other Choral Works, was released on the renowned British classical label Hyperion Records. The album quickly became an international best seller, appearing in the top ten of both Billboard’s and iTune’s Top Classical Albums charts. Two years after its debut, the critically acclaimed release continues to be a top-seller. The collection earned a 2007 Grammy nomination for Best Choral Performance.
Most recently, Whitacre has received acclaim for Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, a cutting edge musical combining trance, ambient and techno electronica with choral, cinematic, and operatic traditions. Winner of the ASCAP Harold Arlen award, this musical also gained Whitacre the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award for most promising musical theater composer. Following its sold-out run, the most recent production earned 10 nominations at the 2007 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, including one for Best World Premiere Musical.
Mr. Whitacre lives in Los Angeles with his wife, celebrated soprano Hila Plitmann, and their son.
little tree
Eric Whitacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower
who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don't be afraid
look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
put up your little arms
and i'll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy
then when you're quite dressed
you'll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they'll stare!
oh but you'll be very proud
and my little sister and I will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we'll dance and sing
"Noel Noel"
The Eric Whitacre song "Little Tree" is a touching ode to the beauty and innocence of a small, silent Christmas tree. The song opens with a description of the tree, using words that convey its delicate, almost fragile nature. The singer asks who found the tree in a green forest and if it was reluctant to leave its natural setting. Then, the singer declares that they will comfort the tree because of its sweet fragrance. The singer emphasizes tenderness as they promise to kiss and hug the tree just as its mother would have. The imagery of the tree's spangles, balls, chains, and fluffy threads, sleeping in a dark box all year, adds to the overall dreamy quality of the song.
The tree is personified as having little arms that can hold all of the Christmas ornaments that will adorn it. The singer promises that every finger on the tree will have a ring, and there won't be any dark or unhappy places left. When the tree is dressed, it will stand in the window for everyone to admire, and the singer imagines the stares of admiration that the tree will elicit. The song ends on a cheerful and festive note, with the singer's little sister and the singer themselves dancing and singing "Noel Noel" as they gaze up at the tree.
Line by Line Meaning
little tree
Addressing the tree, acknowledging its presence
little silent Christmas tree
Describing the tree and setting the scene as Christmas time
you are so little
Observing the tree's size
you are more like a flower
Comparing the tree to a flower, emphasizing its beauty and fragrance
who found you in the green forest
Asking about the history of the tree's discovery
and were you very sorry to come away?
Wondering if the tree misses its previous environment
see i will comfort you
Assuring the tree of safety and care
because you smell so sweetly
Appreciating the tree's pleasant scent
i will kiss your cool bark
Displaying affection towards the tree
and hug you safe and tight
Wrapping the tree in arms to protect it
just as your mother would,
Comparing the embrace to that of a mother's love
only don't be afraid
Reassuring the tree that it is safe
look the spangles
Drawing attention to decorations
that sleep all the year in a dark box
Describing where the decorations are kept
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
Imagining the decorations coming to life
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
Listing the different types of decorations
put up your little arms
Encouraging the tree to join in the celebration
and i'll give them all to you to hold
Sharing the decorations with the tree
every finger shall have its ring
Ensuring that every branch gets its decoration
and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy
Promising a festive and joyful atmosphere
then when you're quite dressed
Referring to when the tree is all decorated
you'll stand in the window for everyone to see
Placing the tree in a visible location
and how they'll stare!
Imagining the reactions of others to the tree's beauty
oh but you'll be very proud
Acknowledging the tree's importance and pride in being decorated
and my little sister and I will take hands
Including family in the celebration
and looking up at our beautiful tree
Admiring the tree's beauty
we'll dance and sing
Sharing joy and excitement
Noel Noel
Singing a traditional Christmas carol
Contributed by Zoe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.