SKU: PE.EP68578
ISBN 9790300759630. English.
Of Time and Passing (2016) is a cycle of three choral songs written specifically for the London-based ensemble, VOCES8, taking into consideration their versatilityand ability to beautifully intone a range of vocal colors with precision and grace.
The first song, I. Life, sets my translation of the poem A Vida by Brazilian poet Olavo Bilac (1865-1918), a poet I discovered while studying Brazilian Portuguese at the University of Michigan. I was drawn both to the simplicity of the text and to the possibilities of teasing out dual contrasting moods. In the beginning and end, this song explores a texture that is very much alive: wave-like contours, throbbing sounds, and plenty of flowing movement. Rising eighth-note motives in particular emphasize the fleetingness of life. But in the middle of the song, the listener is given a slowed-down atmosphere to savor life's beauty.
II. To Everything a Season capitalizes on VOCES8's ability to effectively interpret popular genres a cappella. This ancient text is taken from Ecclesiastes (dated around 300 B.C.) but I set it to a modern, rhythmically-regular and percussive pop-style idiom. Since popular music in whatever era is designedto appeal to a specific ?present time?, it is by its very nature ephemeral, and therefore seemed an apt metaphor to evoke the transitory nature of seasons.
III. Into Your Hands, confines the writing into no more than four parts, often with octave unisons.This creates a more direct and word-focused setting in which the Psalmist?s urgent words are placed at the forefront. Largely homophonic, this song is at times chorale-like, at times madrigal-like,finally relinquishing it?s tension into peaceful rest, proclaiming ?You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God??
- Daniel Knaggs
SKU: HL.48022659
Excellence makes the not always popular point that excellence is not achieved overnight, nor by accident. The (sometime tongue-twisting) language is very colourful and engaging and, as the final movement of The Same Flame, the music is equally exciting and explosive.
SKU: HL.48022657
Guts and Grace considers courage and determination as essentially private qualities, mothered by dark necessity, but on occasion needing to step up publicly, especially in the sporting arena, and roar. This movement is intense and charged with emotion and gives opportunity for sections of the choir to shine individually, as well as a beautiful, soaring soprano solo section in the middle.
SKU: EC.9238
UPC: 600313492389. English.
Another movement from Titration, this piece explores the connection that we all have to one another. Although there is significant divisi, the piece is rewarding to advanced choirs.
SKU: CA.910900
ISBN 9790007165604. Language: German/English. Text: Claudius, Matthias. Text: Matthias Claudius.
The poem Der Mond ist aufgegangen by Matthias Claudius is equally well known and loved. In the setting by Manfred Langer sound is joined by the visual element. The moon risen - dimmed hall lights and candles. Than follows richly harmonious and atmospheric choral music. And when the moon has gone down - darkness, silence. One can scarcely imagine a more fitting conclusion to a concert.
SKU: CA.738661
ISBN 9790007229351. Text language: Latin.
The composition of Verba Ecclesiastes begun in 2002 as a result of a comission from my friend Gary Graden. For many years I've found those words from the Old Testament very fascinating - as everyone knows, I'm not alone. Vanity of vanities! All is vanity! Writers, painters and filmmakers have for centuries been dealing with the subject and I found it high time to set the famous words to music. The suite, for soloists, choir and violoncello, consists of six movements, each one enlighting a different view of life and afterlife, and also, as Matthew Arnold puts it of human misery. Yet the suite is full of hope and humanity, specially recognizable in the two central parts, Dulce lumen and Omnia tempus habent. The music was completed in 2009. (Michael Waldenby).
SKU: CA.738660
ISBN 9790007166311. Text language: Latin.
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