SKU: BT.MUSM570368679
Isthmus denotes a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger ars of land. The title is a metaphor for an effort to bond artistically my experiences of living in Cyprus, my birthplace, and in the USA, my recently adopted homeland. Having lived in a small, partitioned island for my formative years and in England for eleven years, water has always had a double meaning: it has at once served as a gateway to other cultures but also as a border, a violent and absolute interruption of a continuum. While in the USA, or indeed in a now connected Europe, it is possible to travel on land for days without having to encounter a border, in the countries where I lived for most of my life, that was not possible. As an artist, this notion of establishing boundaries and consciously trying to break them is very close to me, as my music deals both with modernity but also with tradition and, similarly, with metaphor and reality. As a Cypriot, the sea, the world of antiquity, the mysteries of the oracles, the notion of borders and the pastoral are all very central to my way of thinking. In Cyprus, different layers of history are frequently superimposed on a single building that might still preserve its Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman features in its layers of stone and architecture. Similarly, ancient ruins or the barbed wire of modern conflict often interrupt placid fields. An isthmus, therefore, can be seen to symbolize my artistic struggle to join strikingly different experiences and notions in a cohesive way. Similar to an isthmus, in this short piece, I connect these experiences with the purpose of creating a distinct and unique sonic context, connecting technology and tradition, the pastoral with the urban, the musical with the extra-musical and the abstract with the concrete. For example, the choir does not always sing in the traditional sense, but the singers imitate various natural sounds, such as water, air, crickets or birds, to create a vivid visual impression for the work. Scandinavian herding calls blend with field recordings from the seas of Cyprus and the lakes of Upstate New York, communicated within clearly defined, singular acoustic sources and spaces through wireless speakers. The text used is both onomatopoeic, articulating an imaginary language, but also literal, with a setting of the poem, “To make a prairie” by the iconic American poet Emily Dickinson and a tiny fragment from Callimachus’ “Hymn to Demeter.” Technology is used sparsely and very intentionally to articulate the expressive qualities of pastoral imagery, creating one unified synthetic timbre with the choristers’ sounds. This piece is dedicated to the wonderful singers of the Georgia Institute of Technology Chamber Choir with special thanks to Professors Hsu and Ulrich, without whose support this composition would not have been possible. Practical notes: A choir of no less than 24 singers is sought with 4 additional soloists (2 Sopranos and 2 Altos). Each singer must have their own wireless speaker, secured either in the music folder or as a strap inside their shirts. All sounds must match in volume the sound from the speakers, creating one unified timbre. The speakers should not be noticeable to the public. The four soloists are placed offstage at the beginning of the work. From 1:35’ onwards they enter the hall and take their positions, ideally at the four corners of the hall. If the hall is too large, the singers can find alternate positions, but these should always be antiphonal. The four soloists sing predominantly in the “kulning” style and the antiphonal aspect is very important to the work. There are two sound files for each section (SATB) that are triggered by each singer’s mobile device. The first occurs at the start of the piece, and the second, about a minute before the end. The sound files are able to be purchased separately, on CD, or are available directly from UYMP.
SKU: PL.1603FS
This large work is set for SATB choir, brass ensemble, timpani and organ. Phillips develops a rhythmic motive throughout the piece, key changes and phrase lengths change in response to the text and the use of dotted rhythms give the work a majestic spirit. This major work would be excellent for concerts and festival services. (* Requires a purchase of a full score both for conductor and organist.).
SKU: HL.14065566
SKU: ST.B854
ISBN 9780852498545.
Though little known in her lifetime (1776-1805), Ann Griffiths is now widely regarded as being among the leading hymnwriters in Wales. She is a major figure whose word speaks strongly to a contemporary audience at a time of growing sensitivity to Christian spirituality in its many and varied forms, and to the often unacknowledged role of women in the life and history of the church. As a crystallising of the gifts of many people, this treasure of a book would be hard to rival. (Christoper Idle, News of Hymnody).
SKU: HL.14066002
SKU: AU.9781451479324
Bob Burroughs has a true talent for writing a cappella, and it shows again here. This setting of Matthew 28:1-6 is richly set with rich harmonies and divisis. This powerful anthem would be a gorgeous addition for Easter Sunday.
SKU: GI.G-RA577
SKU: CA.3410100
ISBN 9790007051860. Language: German/English.
The autograph contains no reference to accompaniment by instruments, and a purely vocal performance of the work would doubtless be completely appropriate. On the other hand, nothing speaks against instrumental support of the voices, as it is known from the performance practice of Johann Sebastian Bach.
SKU: CA.2705511
ISBN 9790007199630. Language: German.
Since its first complete performance in 1868 in the Cathedral of Bremen, Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem is, without question, one of the key works in the history of the oratorio. The reputation of the work is based not only on its unusually concentrated musical structure, but also on the original conception of the text: Brahms assembled important passages from both the Old and New Testaments in Luther's translation so that thoughts on sorrow and consolation would obviously refer to one another. In contrast to many other oratorios of the 19th century Brahms places the choir, the voice of the community, in the center of this interdenominational celebration of the dead. Score and part available separately - see item CA.2705500.
SKU: CA.2740319
ISBN 9790007133900. Language: Latin.
Puccini's first known sacred work was composed during his school days at the Istituto Pacini in Lucca. It was first performed there in 1877. The text was a hymn to the Patron Saint of Lucca which was probably written by the composer himself. The work was so popular that by 1880 it had received three further performances, though it was also inserted in the Messa a 4 voci, after the Credo. Thereafter it disappeared from the music world and was only first rediscovered in the 1990s. Since, with the exception of the lack of a solo tenor in the piece, it is identical with this one in the Messa, for this reason it would seem only natural to perform these two works together. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.2740300.
SKU: CA.2740309
ISBN 9790007201944. Language: Latin.
SKU: BT.MUSMF272
ISBN 9788774840954.
Anthology for mixed choir. Suitable for use colleges, high schools etc.
© 2000 - 2024 Home - New realises - Composers Legal notice - Full version
