Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: http://read.jwpepper.com/i/759957
NOTE FROM THE COMPOSER e Seven Last Words are a set of texts that have their origins in the bible and are oen referenced in liturgical services during Holy Week. Musical settings exist as far back as the sixteenth centu- ry, with notable versions by Haydn and later by Gounod, Franck, and Dubois. Haunting in their simplicity, they expose a gamut of emotions experienced during the Passion, in a way that distills the most poignant moments of the human condition: from the tender for- giveness of the Father, Forgive em to the hopefulness of the promise of paradise, Today, You Will Be with Me. e work unfolds to reveal a complex tapestry of states of emotion: compassion (Behold Your Son), yearning (I irst), despair (My God, Why Have You Abandoned Me?), accep- tance (Into Your Hands I Surrender My Soul), and resignation (It is Finished). is setting uses various interpolations of biblical and liturgical texts such as the Kyrie, "Truly this man was the Son of God," and "All of the gates were opened wide" as commentary on and in dialogue with the words of Christ, further expanding the story and the reaction of those present and witness to the Passion. is setting departs from previous settings in two significant ways: 1. Order of the texts As the sayings are taken from different Gospels and a certain order of the texts cannot be as- certained, the fourth and fih sayings have been intentionally switched from the order for both musical and dramatic reasons. is places I irst and the turba crowd refrain prior to My God, Why Have You Abandoned Me? It is possible, for those who desire the traditional order to be retained, to restore the traditional order of texts in performance without loss of musical integrity. 2. Option of English or Latin is work may be performed in English or Latin. As musical settings of this important text are significantly underrepresented in the English language, this work was set in English for those wishing to use the work in conjunction with a religious service. To acknowledge the rich history and universal nature of the text, this work was also set in Latin for those who may be those wish- ing to use the work in a concert setting. Of course, religious services may use the Latin text, and concert settings may use the English text without diminishing the work. ACCOMPANIMENT OPTIONS • Piano • Full Orchestra Flute, Oboe, 2 Trumpets in C, Horn in F, Timpani, Harp, Strings • Chamber Ensemble Flute, Oboe, Horn in F, Piano AVAILABLE EDITIONS 70-390P Preview Pak (CD + Score) 70-390 Choral Score 70-390A Full Orchestra Score 70-390B Full Orchestra Parts 70-390C Chamber Ensemble Score 70-390D Chamber Ensemble Parts 70-390CD CD Recording Multimedia enhancements for the presentation of this work may be available. For information visit www.morningstarmusic.com, search for the product number 70-390, and find any infor- mation in the description. For Preview Only