Welcome Song

"Welcome Song" is a quodlibet based on traditional songs from various major world cultures from Muehleisen's cantata, "Borders," the themes of which are immigration, how we treat the stranger amongst us, and the borders between us that both divide and connect us on so many levels. Many cultures have the tradition of the "Welcome Song" in which the host sings a song of their own people and the guest sings a song from their culture in return, a truly beautiful gesture and tradition. Beginning with a Salish song of welcome from the indigenous First People of the Pacific Northwest, Muehleisen weaves together and superimposes traditional songs from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to represent the beautiful tapestry and melting pot of American immigrants. The traditional songs used in Welcome Song include As a beam o'er the face of the waters may glow, a traditional Irish folksong; Fanga Alafia, a traditional African Welcome Song; Arirang, a traditional Korean folksong; and a dance tune from Arabic Andalusia. In addition to this choir and piano reduction, the work is also available in its original scoring for 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, timpani, percussion, and piano.