Purple Martins

"Purple Martins" by award-winning composer Greg Bartholomew is a vibrant, rhythmically driving work for men’s chorus (TTBB). Duration: 4:00. Commissioned by Chicago's acclaimed Constellation Men's Ensemble for their NOVA 8: chicago seasons program, this dynamic piece sets the 1920 poem of the same name by iconic American poet Carl Sandburg. The text—originally appearing in Sandburg's Pulitzer Prize-winning collection Smoke and Steel—uses rich, sensory imagery to capture the acrobatic, swirling movements of purple martin swallows dipping and soaring over the wooded island in Chicago's Lincoln Park. Bartholomew brilliantly translates Sandburg’s playful, kinetic verses into an engaging musical narrative. Utilizing his hallmark harmonic clarity, independent vocal lines, and driving counterpoint, the music mimics the "slinging ciphers" and "sliding figure eights" of the birds in flight. Designed for medium-advanced to advanced ensembles, the composition challenges singers with shifting textures and subtle, syncopated rhythms that perfectly balance modern harmonies with absolute accessibility. Honored as a Project Encore selection, Purple Martins carries proven artistic merit and serves as a spectacular programming choice for spring concerts, nature-themed sets, or repertoires focusing on classic American poetry.