If Wishes Were Horses

Barbara Rosen's If Wishes Were Horses is a secular art song for SATB choir. The English text explores the whimsical idea of what might happen if desires could be fulfilled effortlessly. It paints a picture of beggars, who by circumstance cannot afford horses, suddenly able to ride them if their wishes could manifest as reality. The lyrics evoke a sense of fantasy and escapism, with imagery of mounting a beautiful horse and cantering away, a vivid metaphor for the power of dreams and aspirations when unchecked by practical limitations. This piece offers a charming and imaginative exploration of a well-known adage.