SKU: PR.312419020
ISBN 9781491131862. UPC: 680160680474. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. English.
Commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Society and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, Terra Nostra is a 70-minute oratorio on the relationship between our planet and humankind, how this relationship has shifted over time, and how we can re-establish a harmonious balance. Part I: Creation of the World explores various creation myths from different cultures, culminating in a joyous celebration of the beauty of our planet. Part II: The Rise of Humanity examines human achievements, particularly since the dawn of our Industrial Age, and how these achievements have impacted the planet. Part III: Searching for Balance questions how to create more awareness for our planet’s plight, re-establish a deeper connection to it, and find a balance for living within our planet’s resources. In addition to the complete oratorio, stand-alone movements for mixed chorus, and for solo voice with piano, are also available separately.Terra Nostra focuses on the relationship between our planet and mankind, how this relationship has shifted over time, and how we can re-establish a harmonious balance. The oratorio is divided into three parts:Part I: Creation of the World celebrates the birth and beauty of our planet. The oratorio begins with creation myths from India, North America, and Egypt that are integrated into the opening lines of Genesis from the Old Testament. The music surges forth from these creation stories into “God’s World†by Edna St. Vincent Millay, which describes the world in exuberant and vivid detail. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “On thine own child†praises Mother Earth for her role bringing forth all life, while Walt Whitman sings a love song to the planet in “Smile O voluptuous cool-breathed earth!†Part I ends with “A Blade of Grass†in which Whitman muses how our planet has been spinning in the heavens for a very long time.Part II: The Rise of Humanity examines the achievements of mankind, particularly since the dawn of the Industrial Age. Lord Alfred Tennyson’s “Locksley Hall†sets an auspicious tone that mankind is on the verge of great discoveries. This is followed in short order by Charles Mackay’s “Railways 1846,†William Ernest Henley’s “A Song of Speed,†and John Gillespie Magee, Jr.’s “High Flight,†each of which celebrates a new milestone in technological achievement. In “Binsey Poplars,†Gerard Manley Hopkins takes note of the effect that these advances are having on the planet, with trees being brought down and landscapes forever changed. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “A Dirge†concludes Part II with a warning that the planet is beginning to sound a grave alarm.Part III: Searching for Balance questions how we can create more awareness for our planet’s plight, re-establish a deeper connection to it, and find a balance for living within our planet’s resources. Three texts continue the earth’s plea that ended the previous section: Lord Byron’s “Darkness†speaks of a natural disaster (a volcano) that has blotted out the sun from humanity and the panic that ensues; contemporary poet Esther Iverem’s “Earth Screaming†gives voice to the modern issues of our changing climate; and William Wordsworth’s “The World Is Too Much With Us†warns us that we are almost out of time to change our course. Contemporary/agrarian poet Wendell Berry’s “The Want of Peace†speaks to us at the climax of the oratorio, reminding us that we can find harmony with the planet if we choose to live more simply, and to recall that we ourselves came from the earth. Two Walt Whitman texts (“A Child said, What is the grass?†and “There was a child went forth every dayâ€) echo Berry’s thoughts, reminding us that we are of the earth, as is everything that we see on our planet. The oratorio concludes with a reprise of Whitman’s “A Blade of Grass†from Part I, this time interspersed with an additional Whitman text that sublimely states, “I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love…â€My hope in writing this oratorio is to invite audience members to consider how we interact with our planet, and what we can each personally do to keep the planet going for future generations. We are the only stewards Earth has; what can we each do to leave her in better shape than we found her?
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: CR.984388
ISBN 9780758672858. 7 X 10.25 inches.
A text by Lisa M. Clark set for SATB and piano by Jeffrey Blersch. The text was inspired by the parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1 - 13) and will help Christians wrestle with the concepts of living in a broken world to make an eternal difference. The music presents a warm melodic setting of the text, and each choral part gets to sing the melody.
Look with eyes that see forever,Faithful to the Lord's design.Work within the world, but neverChoose its call o'er things divine.Nothing on this earth can sever You from love that will refine,You from love that will refine.
Serve with hands that toil unceasing,Diligent in great and small.With the Kingdom's realm increasing,Rob the devil's lair of all.Joyous souls, their bonds releasing,Sing their rescue from the fall,Sing their rescue from the fall.
Love with hearts that will not waverUnderneath the fearsome fight.Show the weary Jesus' favor, Won to make creation right. By all means, bring all to savorMercies rich and glories bright,Mercies rich and glories bright.
Text copyright © 2022 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
SKU: PE.EP73184
ISBN 9790577015453. 190 x 272mm inches. English.
A New World is a musical story across five movements with texts by authors from Cicero and Ovid to George William Russel; from nursery rhymes to war poets.
The music and texts link to form a narrative that questions what sort of âNew Worldsâ have come into existence, or could be created in our future, and considers how we balance human traits of fear, displacement, isolation and conflict with equally human traits of love, hope, forgiveness and unity.
2. The Dream
A standalone work for SATB choir and SATB solo quartet, painting a picture of the different characters of a dream. This movement is both comforting and confusing, and is inspired by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.
Series information
The internationally-renowned British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. The celebration of diverse musical expression is central to the ensembleâs ethos, and this is shown in their versatile concert programmes and innovative educational work. The âVOCES8 singlesâ series includes songs for which the group is particularly well known and which have been composed or arranged specifically for VOCES8.
SKU: HL.2050270
UPC: 797242146398. 6.75x10.5x0.385 inches.
It is the dawning of a new millennium. Uncertainty about the future makes fear a predator and entire nations its vulnerable prey. The global economy is changing faster than the commerce of most countries can adjust to. Wars rage. There is corruption in the highest seats of government and among religious leaders. Hunger is an ever present enemy. God's people are crying out for Divine intervention and peace for a world mired in chaos. Listen...angels are about to sing... common laborers are about to rejoice... rulers are going to bow down... a promise is about to be fulfilled... a King is coming. This is the world scene on the eve of Bethlehem... this is the world scene on the eve of His second advent. Not much is different - yet, everything has changed. Those that listen will hear... those that look will see... those that seek will find. A promise is about to be fulfilled. A King is coming! All Is Calm, All Is Bright.
SKU: MN.56-0119
UPC: 688670221477. English.
Unconditional Love is Howard Goodall’s heartfelt cantata of gratitude and remembrance, a poignant reflection upon the COVID-19 crisis. It seeks both to give thanks to those who sacrificed their lives in the aid of others and to offer solace to the grieving. Yet unifying each of its seven movements is a call to hope and to moving forward in a world rebuilt. The cantata commemorates the selflessness and togetherness felt by communities across the world during the pandemic, communities that offer their thanksgiving in many different ways. It is hoped that Unconditional Love’s universal messages will resonate with choirs of all kinds and in all places, for many years to come.
SKU: GI.WW1937
UPC: 785147041269. English. Text by Alec Powell.
Melodically, rhythmically, and lyrically rich, In Love with You expresses the way that the world looks different when one is falling in love. Leaning into a neo-Broadway style, composer Alec Powell's unique point-of-view paints a beautiful picture here.
SKU: HL.1432569
UPC: 196288203209.
Looking for a great piece for your choir that revolves around the theme of spreading light, hope, and peace to those in need and emphasizing the power of unity and love in making a positive impact on the world which is needed more anymore every day? Great. This is the piece for you. There are many options for the solo sections although originally written to feature a young child as soloist. It could also feature a children's choir singing the solo sections or even a small ensemble within the choir. The message of the piece is that collectively, people can make a significant difference in the world by offering support and love to those in need.
SKU: EC.RBM-114
English.
This choral-orchestral composition was commissioned by the Texas Master Chorale – Brad Bouley, conductor – to help celebrate their 20th anniversary of music-making in the Houston, TX area.For this special occasion, Carol Taylor – a member of the chorus – created a special poem for the use of the composer which encompasses the breadth and variety of music in the state of Texas. The composer was most grateful to have had her creative input for this project.The work is composed in a fairly free-form fashion, in keeping with the scope and varied nature of the musical references in the poem. After an extended orchestral introduction, the chorus begins a journey which vocally spans the disparate regions of the Lone Star State and the ubiquity of music along the way. During this musical journey the listener is reminded of many differing ways in which Texans share music with one another and the world – from abundant popular and folk singing to the highest levels of art music performance.The piece is scored for large orchestra (3332 4331 timp 3 perc hp stgs), and the accompaniment is available on a rental-only basis. This accompaniment is intended for orchestral performance of this paean to vocal music in the state of Texas: Texas Is Singing.( dur: 10:00 ).
SKU: CA.911000
ISBN 9790007160432. Language: German.
What happens to a choir when the FIFA World Cup kicks off? The composer Manfred Länger, of Vienna, has written a very inventive piece about this hot topic in which he spoofs football fever in a very compact composition. The work is suitable for all choirs (mixed choir, women's or men's choir) singers who are football fanatics and those who are football grouches. Written for the World Cup 2006 in Germany, this is still THE choral piece for every football summer!
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