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Review: Thus Spake the Mother
Angelica Dunsavage, DMA of Choral Journal
November 1, 2025
Thus Spake the Mother
Melissa Dunphy
Text by Sri Anada
Mormolyke Press, 2024
SSA unaccompanied (3:30)
Melissa Dunphy sets the powerful words of Indian poet, mystic, and philosopher Sri Ananda in "Thus Spake the Mother." Ananda's text comes from his 1919 collection Snow-Birds, written during his first few years in Norway, where he lived for the latter part of his life. Ananda is credited with being one of the first to bring
Indian philosophy and teachings to Europe. Dunphy's setting is accessible in its part-writing and singable melodic lines but provides a challenge in the weaving of textures and modal harmonies, making it appropriate
for collegiate, community or advanced high school treble ensembles.
"Thus Spake the Mother" is set in three sections that transition through tonal centers to highlight the meaning
of the text. The first section, set in C mixolydian, begins with a fanfare-like motive of "Forward!" and forward
motion is achieved through alternating antiphonal and homophonic passages. In the second section, the text
changes from declamatory for "cross the ditches, break the hedges, and march" to a more nebulous setting of
"seize the secret of the lightless sea, scan and control what mighty powers lie hidden in the soul's unfathomed
deeps." In this section, Dunphy keeps the motives from the first section but uses modal and tonal shifts to depict
the ambiguity of the text. While these shifting centers can be complex, Dunphy's voice leading makes the
transitions seamless through predominantly half-step motion.
The moral of the story is set in the third section, in which the "Mother" reveals the purpose of her demands. She states, "Nature will bring her long-saved treasures to serve and nurture you, but you shall lead
Humanity by the hand with gentle, ceaseless, sweet, unmasking love." Dunphy forgoes modal mixture in
this section, setting it as a musical embrace in B-flat major, and with a tempo that gradually slows to the piece's
conclusion. The alternating textures now take on the character of a rocking, comforting lullaby. The three
voices arrive at the final fermata at different times on the text "by the hand," as if they are grasping each
other's hands.
"Thus Spake the Mother" is a brilliant embodiment of the many aspects of Mother: powerful, commanding, mysterious, and nurturing. This piece is as accessible as it is expressive and has layers of meaning that can
engage treble singers in rehearsal and performance.