Programme notes
The road to paradise
“Abendlied” (Evening song)
Joseph Rheinberger, Liechtenstein, 1839-1901
At age seven, Rheinberger was already playing the organ at the local parish church. He went on to be organist and composer to the Bavarian court. This piece was first written when the composer was only 15, later revised and developed.
The words, from Luther’s translation of Luke’s Gospel, were spoken by the disciples when the resurrected Jesus appears to walk with them as they walk the road to Emmaus.
‘Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is fading’.
“Only in Sleep”
Eriks J Ešenvalds, Latvia, 1977-
With many recordings and awards to his name, Ešenvalds has been a composer-in-residence in both the UK and USA. This piece was composed in 2010, from a poem by Sarah Teasdale, an American poet of the early 20th century, seldom ranked among the greats but often praised for her melodious rhythms.
Only in sleep I see their faces,
Children I played with when I was a child,
Louise comes back with her brown hair braided,
Annie with ringlets warm and wild.
Only in sleep Time is forgotten —
What may have come to them, who can know?
Yet we played last night, as long ago,
And the doll-house stood at the turn of the stair.
The years had not sharpened their smooth round faces,
I met their eyes and found them mild.
Do they, too, dream of me, I wonder,
And for them am I, am I too a child?
“O Radiant Dawn”
Sir James MacMillan, Scotland, 1959-
MacMillan is perhaps Scotland’s most distinguished composer of classical music. His Roman Catholic faith inspires much of his music, although he has also collaborated with the Archbishop of Canterbury (Rowan Williams), as well as taking ideas from folk music.
This is part of the Strathclyde Motets, one of several antiphons (having an ‘echo’ effect) sung to herald the approach of Christmas and the birth of Jesus.
O Radiant Dawn,
Splendour of eternal Light,
Sun of Justice: come,
shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
“Hymn of Acxiom”
Vienna Teng, USA, 1978-
Coming from a Taiwanese family background, Vienna started out as a computer scientist before launching her musical career. A performer and creator in several genres, she is an active critic of many aspects of modern life. This choral work wraps the very modern subject of ‘internet data collection’ inside the serene, reverent world of a sacred hymn. Its name is taken from an actual data-mining corporation, and imagines an all-knowing (digital) entity offering comfort, protection and personal attention to a human being.
Somebody hears you, you know that, you know that.
Somebody hears you, you know that inside.
Someone is learning the colours of all your moods.
Say just the right thing to show that you're understood.
Here you're known.
Leave your life open. You don't have to hide.
Someone is gathering every crumb you drop,
The mindless decisions and moments you long forgot.
Keep them all – let our formulas find your soul.
We’ll divine your artesian source – marshal feed and force.
Our machines will design you a perfect love,
Better still, a perfect lust –
Oh how glorious! oh glorious,
A brand new need is born –
Now we possess you, you’ll own that, you’ll own that.
Now we possess you, you’ll own that, in time.
Now we will build you an endlessly upward world.
Reach in your pocket, embrace you for all you’re worth.
Is that wrong? Isn’t this what you want?
Amen
“Good Night, Dear Heart”
Dan Forrest, USA, 1978-
Pianist and educator as well as a composer, Forrest writes many types of music, especially religious choral works, some highly complex, others more simple, intended for amateurs. His output has sold in millions and won many awards.
This text, often recited at funerals, is generally attributed to Mark Twain, who placed it on his young daughter’s grave. In fact, it is the last verse of an original poem, much longer, by Australian Robert Richardson, entitled “Annette”, written for the grief of a parent losing a child. Forrest was inspired to set it to music when his brother told him that the Ethiopian girl he was planning to adopt had died before she could come to the family in America.
Warm summer sun, shine kindly here
Warm southern wind, blow softly here
Green sod above, lie light, lie light
Good night, dear heart
Good night, good night.
Five Spirituals
Sir Michael Tippett, England, 1905-1998
Tippett was one of the most distinguished composers of mid-20th century Britain. His musical sources ranged from J S Bach to ragtime, while his beliefs drew on many sources, from Trotsky to Carl Jung.
These 5 songs form part of Tippett’s best-known work, “A Child of our Time”, inspired by the suffering of Jews under the Nazis. He began composing it on the day war was declared on Germany in 1939, and it was first performed in 1944. Tippett felt that the American Spiritual best expressed the feelings of oppressed people everywhere. He chose five:
“Steal Away”
Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus;
Steal away, steal away home, I ha’n't got long to stay here.
“Nobody Knows the Trouble I See, Lord”
Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord,
Nobody knows my sorrow,
Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord,
Nobody knows like Jesus.
O brothers, pray for me,
O brothers, pray for me,
And help me to drive old Satan away.
Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord,
Nobody knows Lord, Lord,
Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord
O my Lord, nobody knows, Lord.
“Go Down, Moses”
Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land;
Tell old Pharaoh to let my people go.
When Israel was in Egypt land,
Oppressed so hard, they could not stand.
“By and By”
O by and by, by and by,
I’m gonna lay down my heavy load.
I know my robe’s going to fit me well,
I’m gonna lay down my heavy load.
I’ve tried it on at the gates of Hell.
I’m gonna lay down my heavy load.
“Deep River”
Deep river, my home is over Jordan,
Deep river, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord,
That land where all is peace.
Oh, chillun! Oh don't you want to go
To that Gospel feast, That Promised Land,
That land where all is peace.
Walk into heaven, and take my seat,
And cast my crown at Jesus’ feet,
Lord, I want to cross over into campground,
Oh, deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.
“Hail, Gladdening Light”
Charles Wood, Ireland, 1866-1926
Born in Armagh of a musical family, Wood studied at Cambridge, where he became Professor of Music, and he spent the rest of his career there. Most often performed today is his sacred choral music, though he also wrote instrumental works and co-founded the Irish Folk Song Society in 1904.
The words are by John Keble, a Victorian minister, a leading light in the Oxford Movement, which sought to reform the Church of England. A scholar and poet, the university’s Keble College is named in his honour. He based the text on a 3rd Century Greek hymn. Both the ancient and the modern versions salute the presence of God in the lighting of the lamps as evening falls.
“In Paradisum”
Gabriel Fauré, France, 1845-1924
Fauré is recognised as the leading French composer of his day. His oeuvre developed from late Romanticism to early Modernism.
‘In Paradisum’ is from his most celebrated and often-performed work, the Requiem. Fauré said of it: “Someone has called it a lullaby of death. But it is thus that I see death: as a happy deliverance, an aspiration towards happiness above, rather than as a painful experience.”
The words are part of the traditional Latin Requiem. The author remains anonymous.
In Paradisum deducant Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.
May the angels lead you into paradise;
may the martyrs receive you as you arrive,
and bring you into the holy city of Jerusalem.
May the choir of angels receive you,
and with Lazarus, once a beggar,
may you have eternal rest.
“Cantate Domino”
Sir Karl Jenkins, Wales, 1944-
Karl Jenkins began his career with the avant/jazz rock band Soft Machine, and broke through into borderline pop classical with ‘Adiemus’, from which ‘Cantate Domino’ comes. His approach became more fully classical in 1999 with ‘The Armed Man, a Mass for Peace’.
The words come from various parts of the Psalms.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Cantate Domino canticum novum, Alleluia.
Jubilate Deo omnis terra: servite Domino Domino in lætitia. Alleluia.
Cantate et exultate et psallite Regem, Regem regum et hymnum dicite Deo.
Alleluia; alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing to the Lord a new song, Alleluia.
Be joyful in the Lord, all the earth: serve the Lord in gladness. Alleluia.
Sing and exult, and sing psalms to the King of Kings.
Alleluia; alleluia.
“Song for Athene”
Sir John Taverner, England, 1944-2013
Born in London, where his father was a builder (and church organist), John Taverner converted to the Orthodox Church and drew on both Greek and Russian aspects. He specialised in choral religious work of which this is one of the best known.
The text is by Mother Thekla, a Russian Orthodox abbess who was Taverner's long-time spiritual adviser, using words from the Orthodox funeral service and from Shakespeare's Hamlet. The musical style draws on Byzantine traditions.
It gained worldwide exposure when performed at Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997 and remains Taverner’s best-known work. ‘Athene’ refers, not to the goddess, but to a young Greek friend of Taverner’s, killed in a cycling accident.
Alleluia. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
Alleluia. Remember me, O Lord, when you come into your Kingdom.
Alleluia. Give rest, O Lord, to your handmaid, who has fallen asleep.
Alleluia. The Choir of Saints have found the wellspring of life and door of Paradise.
Alleluia. Life: a shadow and a dream.
Alleluia. Weeping at the grave creates the song:
Alleluia. Come, enjoy rewards and crowns I have prepared for you.
“You Do Not Walk Alone”
Elaine Hagenberg, USA, 1979-
Elaine Hagenberg has built a name as a composer of uplifting choral works based on poetic texts by a wide range of writers, often unfamiliar. This text is from an ancient traditional Irish blessing.
May you see God’s light on the path ahead,
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear, even in your hour of sorrow,
the gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard, may hardness never turn your heart to stone.
May you always remember, when the shadows fall,
You do not walk alone.
“Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)”
Billy Joel, USA, 1949-
Joel was nicknamed ‘The Piano Man’ after the title of one of his songs. He has had a prolific career as a singer-songwriter since the 1970s, and is among the most successful in the world. Born in the Bronx to English Jewish parents, he describes himself as a Jewish atheist. His personal life has been turbulent, including four marriages, health problems including substance abuse, and the loss of several million dollars to his crooked manager.
This was written in reply to his 7-year-old daughter’s question: “What happens when you die?”
Goodnight, my angel, time to close your eyes, and save these questions for another day.
I think I know what you've been asking me, I think you know what I've been trying to say.
I promised I would never leave you, and you should always know, wherever you may go,
No matter where you are, I never will be far away.
Goodnight, my angel, now it's time to sleep, and still so many things I want to say.
Remember all the songs you sang for me when we went sailing on an emerald bay.
And like a boat out on the ocean, I'm rocking you to sleep, the water's dark and deep;
Inside this ancient heart, you'll always be a part of me.
Goodnight, my angel, now it's time to dream, and dream how wonderful your life will be.
Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby,
Then in your heart, there will always be a part of me.
Someday we'll all be gone, but lullabies go on and on,
They never die, that's how you and I will be.
“Measure Me, Sky!”
Elaine Hagenberg, USA, 1979-
Words are from a poem by Leonora Speyer, 1872-1956, an American poet and violinist.
Its aim is to encourage people to reach their full potential by fully interacting with all aspects of the universe.
Measure me, sky! Tell me I reach by a song
Nearer the stars; I have been little so long.
Sky, be my depth, Wind, be my width and my height,
Measure me, sky! Measure me, sky!
Horizon, reach out! Catch at my hands, stretch me taut,
Rim of the world: Widen my eyes by a thought.
World, my heart's span; Loveliness, wings for my flight.
Measure me, sky! Measure me, sky!