To celebrate Harvard's 375th anniversary during Commencement Morning Exercises, the University invited former faculty member Seamus Heaney, a 1995 Nobel laureate, to return to Cambridge and to read his "Villanelle for an Anniversary," written and first read for the 350th anniversary exercises in 1986. (Heaney is no stranger to the Commencement stage; he spoke at the Afternoon Exercises in 2000.) After the poet finished his reading, the Commencement Choir came to the front of Tercentenary Theatre, arranged themselves on the Memorial Church steps to face the audience, and sang the premiere of a musical setting of the work, composed for the occasion by Richard Beaudoin, preceptor of music. Read Harvard Magazine's account of the composition, and see the composer's original score.
The choral version of Seamus Heaney's anniversary poem debuts at Commencement
Seamus Heaney's 1986 Harvard poem, set to music
Seamus Heaney | Photograph by Stu Rosner
The Commencement Choir, standing on the Memorial Church steps in front of the Commencement platform, sings the premiere of the musical setting of Seamus Heaney's "Villanelle for an Anniversary." | Photograph by Jim Harrison
You might also like
Harvard Graduate Workers Begin Strike
In the second walkout in six months, union leaders call for better pay and benefits and a stronger grievance process.
Harvard Law School Announces $31.4 Million Donation
The school’s largest-ever gift comes after a year of record fundraising.
Harvard College Applications Surge 15 Percent
Of 1,648 students in the class of 2030, 39 percent will pay no tuition.
Most popular
Explore More From Current Issue
As humanities shrink across higher education, one department is flourishing. Is its success a fluke, or a roadmap?
A rare Egyptian mummy case is on display at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East.
These newly released novels, histories, and memoirs grapple with identity in all its forms.