SKU: CA.7070110

ISBN 9790007252274. German/English. Text: Meyer, Conrad Ferdinand.

“Friede auf Erden” op. 13 is regarded as Arnold Schoenberg’s last tonal composition and is one of the few choral works of the Second Viennese School. On the same day that he completed his op. 13, Schoenberg made the first sketches for his 2nd String Quartet, a key work in atonal music. Although Schoenberg later orchestrated “Friede auf Erden”, he intended the piece to be performed unaccompanied.
To help rehearsing the work, this choral score contains the piano transcription made by Anton Webern for use in rehearsals for the planned first performance. The text for op. 13 is a secular Christmas poem by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer. At the time of its composition (1907), Schoenberg thought the vision of a “reine Harmonie unter Menschen” (pure harmony amongst people) described in the poem was conceivable, but he later distanced himself from this idea. What remained is a composition of great artistic power and depth – a real showpiece for ambitious choirs!. Score available separately - see item CA.7070100.

SKU: PR.312419090

ISBN 9781491135778. UPC: 680160687848. English, Hebrew.

In Stacy Garrop’s inspired hands, divisi mixed chorus provides a rich palette of texture and color. Her setting intermingles three versions of the Hebrew folk tune, taking artistic advantage of contrasts between solo and tutti, homophony and grand antiphony, divisi men and divisi women, and the gradual braiding and unbraiding of Hebrew and English texts. LO YISA GOY is the explicitly anti-war Scriptural text better-known in its English translation that begins, “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares... nation shall not lift up a sword against nation.”.
When Jonathan Miller asked me to write two pieces for Chicago a cappella, I knew right away that I wanted to choose two songs from my own past.The first piece, Hava Nagila, is a celebratory song full of joy. I wanted the second work to contrast the first, and to this end, I chose the somber text of Lo Yisa Goy, a prayer for peace. I remember singing this song as a young child in Hebrew school and synagogue, always in context (at least in my congregation) of praying for the state of Israel. I think we’re at a particular point in which people in a lot of different nations could use such a prayer. For this reason, you’ll hear the words in both Hebrew and English.In my research of previous versions of the melody, I discovered three variants for the tune, all of which I have incorporated into my piece.

SKU: BA.BA07414

ISBN 9790006559183. 27 x 19 cm inches. Text Language: Latin.

Based on the well-known bible text “Sing unto the Lord a new song” (Psalm 96:1-3), this upbeat composition with strong dynamics and flowing block chords alternating with fast-paced polyphony brings across this joyful message and enthuses singers.

Originally conceived for male choir, women’s voices have now been added so that this version for mixed choir presents a further dimension of colour. This version also makes it possible to divide the choir into two groups, one for women and another for men, and to have them sing either together or as separate units.

The version for mixed choir was premiered in Uppsala Cathedral (Sweden) on 26 October 2013, with the Uppsala Cathedral Singers conducted by Ulric Andersson.

“My music is my own and I have never tried to be original. That has always been my motto and I have only tried to use music to express all the feelings which life has to offer. This has led people to describe my music as ‘so sad that it sounds like birds who have lost their wings‘ but also as ‘the happiest classical music that we have ever heard’.
My compositions are almost all sacred. They express not only my own faith but also my appreciation and respect for the timeless texts that have been used for centuries and centuries.”

Mårten Jansson (b. 1965), elected member of the Föreningen svenska tonsättare (the Society of Swedish Composers), graduated from the Royal College of Music, Stockholm (KHM) with an MFA degree in Music Education, Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Voice. For more than ten years he was the music director and conductor of “Carmen”, one of the most prominent womens’ vocal ensembles in Sweden. He currently teaches choral conducting and music theory as well as giving vocal tuition at the Bolandgymnasiet and Musikskolan in his home town of Uppsala.

Please find a recording of Cantate Domino performed by the Riga Recording Studio Singers (Latvia) by clicking on Multimedia.