Spanish Fisherman cover image

< Back to previous page

Spanish Fisherman

Publisher: LAH Publications

Catalogue Number: LAH 72

Year: 2021

For: SATB with Piano

Duration: 4:30

Spanish Fisherman was commissioned by the Nova Scotia Choral Federation with support from the Estate of Robbie Smith, as part of the Robbie Songs Project – a Nova Scotian songwriter’s legacy. When I was approached about arranging Robbie Smith’s music as part of this legacy project, this was one of the first songs I listened to, and it captivated me right away. The way the melody ends each verse with the words ‘when the sea meets with the land’ felt to me like waves, and I immediately heard this in a choral texture with overlapping vocal lines imitating this image. You can listen below to the original song, recorded by the acoustic folk duo, Naming the Twins.

I often gravitate toward music by artists from Canada’s east coast, and was delighted to discover Robbie Smith’s music. I’ve also arranged his songs Lincoln Cathedral and Let’s have some music, and both are available from Cypress Choral Music.

Purchase

Works are charged per person. Please enter the number of performers

$3.50/copy. Minimum order of 6
Category:

View perusal score

Listen to a recording of the original song by the acoustic folk duo Naming the Twins

Words by Robert S. Smith

On the rolling waves he goes
Rowing where the fish will be
With his sturdy hands the Spanish fisherman
Will gather in the harvest of the sea

As the sun breaks from the waves
And his boat rocks silently
Some great power keeps watch upon the deep
And his little boat upon the sea

Ah, but Celinda waits for him
Waiting to soothe his rope-burned hands
And the lonely’s worth the living
When the sea meets with the land... meets with the land

Till the salt spray whites his hands
And the sea winds carve their lines
All alone will he fill his destiny
Gathering the harvest of the sea

Ah, but Celinda waits for him
To soothe his rope-burned hands
And the lonely’s worth the living
When the sea meets with the land... meets with the land

Ah, but Celinda waits for him
Waiting to soothe his rope-burned hands
And the lonely’s worth the living
When the sea meets with the land... meets with the land