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Works composed as MemorialsCOMPILATION: MEMORIAL WORKS What terrific responses from 40 Choralist members! Additional ideas are still welcome. The original query: Dear colleagues, Can you suggest intriguing choral works written as memorials? I'm looking for pieces of varied character sacred or secular which set texts other than the traditional Latin Requiem. I'd prefer works under 10 minutes. They may be accompanied or a cappella, Renaissance through contemporary. I'll gladly post a compilation. Many thanks! Allison Fromm Entrekin //////////////////// Responses: Paul Ayres: my reworking of "Purcell's Funeral Sentence" (SSAATTBB unacc), text from the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer. 7-8 mins. paulayres(a)clara.net www.paulayres.co.uk //////////////////// Bach motets: Fuerchte dich nicht, Der Geist hilft, Jesu meine Freude & O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, BWV 118 (new ediiton by Presser) //////////////////// Ysaye M. Barnwell (Sweet Honey in the Rock): Breaths a setting of a beautiful poem by Senegalese poet Birago Diop. Unaccompanied. //////////////////// John Ness Beck: In Memoriam Double Choir, a cappella //////////////////// Beethoven: Elegaischer Gesang (ECS) //////////////////// William Billings: Samuel the Priest //////////////////// Johannes Brahms: Nänie in German with Classical/mythical references, orchestral accompaniment, gorgeous but also just over 10 minutes. [painter Anselm Feuerbach] Brahms: Begrabnisgesang (Hinshaw) //////////////////// Bright Morning Stars Are Rising TTBB Chorus, unaccompanied; tenor solo //////////////////// William Byrd: Justorum Animae (or any other setting) //////////////////// Nancy Hill Cobb: Threnody (Hinshaw music) is a 25-minute work for SATB Chorus and orchestra. It combines some traditional Latin Texts (Agnus Dei, Absolom fili mi, Ubi caritas, and Cantate Domino) with one scripture (Psalm 94) and the poetry of Ernestine Clark, a woman who worked in downtown Oklahoma City and was peripherally affected by the Oklahoma City bombing. It is dedicated to the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, living or not, and is about the event and the subsequent recovery of those who survived. //////////////////// Corigliano: Psalm 8 [his father] //////////////////// Giovanni Croce: O Vos Omnes //////////////////// Eleanor Daley: Requiem It's longer than you need, but it's in many movements, some the Latin text, others poetry. Publisher is Gordon Thompson, I believe, and the requiem is recorded by her choir in Canada. Four works by Eleanor Daley are wonderful as memorials: 1. "The Angels Will Guide You Home, a beautiful setting written for SSA with piano (duration 4:30; Alliance Music Publishing). 2. And God Shall Wipe Away All Tears (unison with piano, Hinshaw). 3. In Remembrance, part of a larger work (Requiem), written for SATB a cap and later re-voiced for SSAA a cap (Warner Chappell) and TTBB a cap (Rhythmic Trident Publishing). Wonderful acapella work, not difficult, great text. "Do not stand by my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep..." about 3 minutes. 4. Another, possibly lesser-known work, but absolutely stunning, is For the Fallen (Alliance) for SATB a cappella and trumpet soloist. //////////////////// Malcolm Dalglish - "Epitaph" - SSAA (but he might have an SATB arrangement) accompanied by hammer dulcimer. Absolutely gorgeous. //////////////////// Robert DeCormier: Two works written as memorials: Legacy (text by John Dobbs) published by Lawson Gould, chamber orchestra & Under A Greenwood Tree (text by Sean O'Casey) unpublished, full orchestra. Both are about 20 minutes in length. //////////////////// Josquin des Prez: Nymphes des Bois written as a lament/memorial to Johannes Ockeghem (La deploration de la morte de Johannes Ockeghem)? Beautiful! Josquin eloquently lists composers paying tribute . . .Josquin, Piersson (Pierre de la Rue), Brumel, Compère. It is in French, though you can perform it in old French. ///////////////////// Joyce Elaine Eilers: Thy Will Be Done & Go Ye now in Peace //////////////////// Dan Gawthrop: Close Now Thine Eyes - SATB a cap. & Sing Me to Heaven - SATB minimal divisi //////////////////// Ron Harris: Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep SATB, a cappella. Publisher: WOODLAND / INTRADA A0500210. //////////////////// Howard Helvey: I was honored two years ago to write a memorial choral work for the mother of the conductor of the Columbus (Ohio) Symphony Chorus. The sacred text, "Whatever Be the Love," was commissioned as well, and was written by the extremely talented Mary Louise Bringle. Oxford University Press will be publishing the 6-minute work, tentatively scheduled for release this fall. It is scored for SATB choir and orchestra, but can be performed effectively with the piano reduction. If you'd like, I'm happy to send along a pre-publication copy for your perusal. //////////////////// Herbert Howells: Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing (Belwin) about 9+ minutes, written for his son Michael, but finished at time JFK assassinated. The text is from a 4th-century poem by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, translated by Helen Waddell. //////////////////// Richard Hynson: In the Midst of Life (from Book of Common Prayer) and Blessed Are the Dead (from Anglican Burial Service). Both are published by Mark Foster Music, now a division of Shawnee Press. //////////////////// Isaac: Quis dabit [Lorenzo de Medici] //////////////////// Laburda Jirí: Hymnus "Ut omnes hominess vivant humaniter" for the Mixed Choir a cappella and Alto solo, on the Latin text by Jan Amos Comenius (6 minutes). This Hymnus was awarded the main Prize in the International Concourse in Jihlava (CZ) and after it appeared in print by the American publishers: G. Schirmer, Inc., (Music Sales Corp.), 257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010. U.S.A. and became very popular in our country. As to my music doesnt use the avantgarda-technics, nevertheless it was awarded more than 60 prizes (10 international), has been performed in numerous countries of the whole world and all my music has been appearing in the great world publishing houses. In case of your interest, please visit the websites: www.musica.cz (comp - laburda) www.Google (jiri laburda) www.apimusic.org (laburda) www.Haas-Koeln.de (laburda) /////////////// Lassus: Tragico texti syrmate SSSSAA (very wide range) is a gorgeous, and vocally demanding, Renaissance lament for the destruction of a city, and for those who died in it. Treble Clef Music Press, TC-160. //////////////////// James MacMillan: A Childs Prayer in memory of children who died in a massacre at a school in Ireland. sitting in my office. 3-4 mins. (Boosey and Hawkes) //////////////////// Ann McKinley Psalm 46 (SATB and piano) written in 2002 in memory of Commander Dan Shanower who was killed in the Pentagon on 9-11. 9 minutes+ The motet was performed later that year (2002) by a community chorus in Aurora, the next town to the west. On September 11, 2003 it was performed at a memorial service at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The latter performance, naturally scheduled very early in the term, was a pick-up student-faculty-staff group. (Weston Noble was present. He said I knew how to write for voices, a fine compliment, I think!) The 3 performances are now available combined on a single CD. I can send you one, also a score if you are interested. The on-line path: Naperville Chorus: go way downthere's the sound of the motet go further down for repertoire listing, then see "Psalm 46" and also my name, both in red. For further information see SHANOWER FAMILY and also info (+ pictures) on Naperville's memorial to Dan. //////////////////// Graeme Morton: Crossing the Bar(Morton Music). It's Australian, a lovely setting of Lord Tennyson's work. //////////////////// W. A. Mozart: "Lacrimosa" from Requiem //////////////////// James Mulholland Think On Me SATB and SSA arrangements with Piano and French Horn. Text by Mary Queen of Scots, written from prison, I believe. It's an octavo, several minutes in length, available in several voicings, including SATB, TTBB and (I think) for solo voice... published by Colla Voce Publishingcheck out collavoce.com for information. Beautiful! //////////////////// Steve Murray: I have a piece, as yet unpublished, that was written for a neighbor woman who died in an automobile crash in 2000. I used the text which has the lines "Do not stand at my grave and weep..." I have named it "A Thought To Keep", and I will have it recorded by Albany Pro Musica in May. The recording and score will be then available for any interested parties to examine. If you wish, I'll send you a pdf file of the score. www.SteveMurrayMusic.com //////////////////// Brad Nelson: For Whom The Bell Tolls The score can been seen and heard by clicking on - http://www.gladdemusic.com/forwhom.htm - its 3 movements span quite a range of styles, 1st and 2nd movement is accompanied, 3rd movement is a cappella. It is a moving work. //////////////////// Francisco Nunez: Canticle for treble voices and piano. The Ithaca College Womens Chorale has performed it in concert at ACDA All-Eastern and I believe its to be published soon by Boosey and Hawkes. //////////////////// Oceanna Music publishes a beatiful and moving SAB work with piano very suitable for your request, as it was written as in memory of the composer's brother-in-law. It is called 'Goodbye' and you can see a manuscript sample and hear a sound clip at our website: www.oceannamusic.com (look under the choral section in our online music store). //////////////////// Page: Donde hay //////////////////// Alice Parker: Remembering Those who Fly - A very cool choral piece, SATB, accompanied only by brass, no keyboard. Great for something like Memorial Day. //////////////////// Sheena Phillips: 1. Memorial - scored for double choir, narrator and flute. Written to commemorate the life of the ancient Scottish figure of St Ninian. Based on texts from the Bible (Psalm 98), from William Dunbar's Lament for the Makars (makar = poet), and an anonymous Irish Gaelic poem about the passage of time. First performed at the Ninian Festival in 2000. 2. Music for Jill - SATB unaccompanied. Very simple. Written to commemorate the life of Jill Sumner, who with her husband David ran a small theatre in south west Scotland. Jill died of cancer three years ago and mentioned this poem by Norman McCaig when I asked if she'd like me to write something for her. 3. How can I keep from singing? - SATB divisi. Commissioned last year by the Lancaster Chorale, Ohio (dir. Robert Trocchia), to commemorate the life of Nick Jourdan, a singer in the Chorale for many years. Words and melody by Robert Lowry, 1860. To be premiered May 2005 in Lancaster, Ohio. sheena(a)columbus.rr.com //////////////////// Poulenc Quatre prieres [his uncle] //////////////////// Purcell's "Funeral Sentences" (SATB and continuo) text from the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer. 7-8 mins. //////////////////// Donna Rhodenizer: Heaven's Open Arms, written as a memorial tribute for the families of the victims of the crash of Swiss Air Flight 111. It has also been used at funerals, Remebrance Day ceremonies, and has been adapted for 9/11 memorial use. Heaven's Open Arms is available in SAB as well as SSA arrangement. It is in contemporary style, accompanied (piano). Written by Canadian composers, Donna Rhodenizer and Andy Duinker. www.redcastlepublishing.com //////////////////// John Rutter's "The Lord Is My Shepherd" from his Requiem (1985 - Hinshaw) is available separately from Oxford. It has a beautiful oboe solo, and sounds good with organ accompaniment, although you could use piano and/or keyboard. Also, "Out of the Deep" from the Requiem is another excellent piece that stands on its own. It has a cello solo. John Rutter: To Every Thing There Is a Season SATB Chorus with Chamber Ensemble //////////////////// Schumann: Beim Abschied zu Singen (Broude Bros. or Breitkopf) //////////////////// Natalie Sleeth: Hymn of Promise //////////////////// Tavener: Song for Athene and Funeral Ikos (Chester) //////////////////// R. Thompson: Alleluia, SATB unaccompanied //////////////////// Thomas Tomkins: When David Heard //////////////////// Vaughan Williams: Rest, The Souls of the Righteous and An Oxford Elegy (OUP) //////////////////// Victoria O Vos Omnes //////////////////// Eric Whitacre: When David Heard Eric Whitacre: Sleep originally commissioned as a memorial to a singer's parents who had passed away just a few weeks apart, and originally a setting of a Robert Frost poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." He had to have a friend write a new poem when he had problems with the Frost estate, and the result is stunning. Around six minutes. //////////////////// Many thanks to Mitos Andaya, Jennifer Anderson, Gregory Aune, Paul Ayres, Linda Beaupre, Nick Boltz, Faith Brill, Janis Bryant, Frederic H. Ford, Jack Goodwin, David Griggs-Janower, Howard Helvey, Joy Hirokawa, Mary Hoffman, Laburda Jirí, John T. King, Bruce Lengacher, Nancy Hill Cobb Lippens, Ann McKinley, Jonathan Miller, Steve Murray, Brad Nelson, Jon-Philip Olson, Meg Papadolias, Sheena Phillips, Cynthia Powell, Lauren K. Quigley, Donna Rhodenizer, Joel M. Rinsema, Catherine Roma, Robert A.M. Ross, Clair Rozier, Mohamed Shahril Bin Mohamed Salleh, Margaret Shannon, Allen H Simon, Patricia thor Straten-Mohr, Anthony Toohey, Sophie Ward, William Weinmann, & Rodney Wynkoop! Allison Fromm Entrekin
on October 18, 2006 10:00pm
*NO LAMENT is a song for piano and treble voice (tenor or soprano) that uses a beautiful anonymous poem concerning life after death.
on January 14, 2007 10:00pm
A MOONLIT ELEGY (words by Alfred Tennyson) WAR MEMORIAL (Third of "Three Stuart Songs") Both compositions by Huub de Lange for Choir a capella SATB can be heared and downloaded (midi-/mp3-/pdf files) via cpdl.org The direct link to the music is: http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Huub_de_Lange
on June 23, 2008 10:00pm
Rene Clausen has written a beautiful work titles "Memorial". Commissioned originally by the ACDA and performed at their NYC convention, this piece is spectacular. I performed it with my church choir (50 singers) and orchestra. The congregation was deeply moved. Performance time is 25 minutes. A beautiful recording can be obtained from concordiarecordings.com. |
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The composer wrote the melody to three of the verses then added a mini interlude between each verse to which he then added a lyric. It is melodically inspiting and profoundly moving lyrically.
In it's present form, as a song, it is only 2:35 in length. Arrangement, however could easily extend it to a length possibly more desireable to your purpose.
If you provide a mailing address I will forward you a CD. If the piece is to your liking I can provide sheet music via a pdf file.
Best, Jim Lee