“I Choose to Be Happy” is about joy, the second fruit of the Spirit. Although the word “happy” seems to have a temporary connotation and “joy” a permanent connotation, the word “happy” (and a few synonyms) dominate the text throughout, therefore depicting the permanent state of joy just the same. This upbeat piece aims to embody the same sentiment of two other art songs: Eduard Khil’s “Vocalise” and Geoffrey O’Hara’s “Give A Man A Horse He Can Ride”. It embodies the personalities of myself and a good friend of mine from college. We are both jovial, ready (and eager!) to smile and laugh at any given moment, even when something funny didn’t happen. The piece itself has a moment of laughter to reinforce the feeling of joy. A line in the text says: “Some people may stop and wonder: ‘Why does he smile all the time?’” A moment of text painting happens on the word “stop”. The text goes on to list several things that bring people joy, including songs of birds reinforced by text painting of high-pitched flutters in the accompaniment. Everything listed is centered around a slightly re-worded quotation of the lone Scripture used in this movement: “This joy I have, no one can take it away”. (John 16:22) The choice of a 6/4 meter was simply because although it is not a commonly used meter, it makes me happy every time I see or hear it in music.
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Austin-Sinclair Harris 