Popule Meus

For solo Cello Timpani and Strings.Popule Meus was commissioned through the Magnum Opus project: Kathryn Gould founding patron and commissioner and Meet the Composer project manager.It was first performed on 6thFebruary 2010 by Yuri Hooker (cello) and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alexander Micklethwate. Composer's Notes 'Popule Meus is a meditation on the Judaic and Christian text ?O my People whathave I done to you?? but itis also a Universalist contemplation of the wholesale rejection of God by modern man. However much manrejects God he cannot escape Him and indeed he is condemned to the supernatural by his deiformnature. InHindu terms he is the Absolute Ayam Atma Brahma (The Self is the Absolute).In this work the solo cello is the All-Compassionate One while the timpani represent man in his vain andpointless rejection. Although the solocello and strings and the timpani share the same material (four ideas aregradually revealed and they revolve four times during the piece) the timpani music is violent and becomesincreasingly frenzied and contracted while thecello and strings remain still and serene.So even in winning the Darkness loses and even in losing the Light wins. Passion Resurrection andRedemption; or in Hindu terms Atma (The Absolute) alone is real Maya (The Relative) ismerely illusion.'

This work is intended for performance on Good Friday during the 'Adoration of the Cross' ceremony of the Roman (Catholic) rite. The pitch of the sung parts is given by a member of the choir who after discreetly obtaining a tone with the aid of a tuning fork (or other such device) intones 'Popule meus' (and later 'Hagios') clearly on the notes indicated in each case. The recited 'Hagios' choruses should be performed as speech on diverse tones but in the natural speaking registers and in compliance with the rhythms and expression marks indicated. When reciting the word 'Sanctus' the consonant 'nc' should dominate.The two speech choruses develop into a 'Miserere nobis' sungon chance (random) tones with fixed time values (durations) the second time however culminating in completely free improvisation. At this point each singer sings 'Miserere nobis' independently of the others. The sentence may be repeated (ad lib.) with new variations until at a sign from the leader each initiated phrase is terminated in a diminuendo.These improvised sections should allow for considerable freedom of expression. They should be a result of spontaneous inspiration but should at all times be characterised by sacral dignity and should conform to the character of the work as a whole. All sections to be performed quasi attacca - keep the intensity.The reproaches are to be recited by a male chorister in his normal speaking register but quasi cantabile.It is left at the discretion of the performers to decide how many of the recited verses in the last section of the work are to be performed. When 'Popule' is sung for the last time the word 'mihi' should be uttered as a sigh.Bernhard Lewkovitch

Ces trois pièces empruntent à trois moments de la liturgie des Heures : les matines de Noël (Quem vidistis), l'office de la vénération de la Croix pour l'après-midi du Vendredi Saint (Popule meus), la prière avant le repos de la nuit ou Complies (Nunc dimittis). Chacune est d'un caractère différent entre curiosité joyeuse, doute et interrogation, calme et sérénité. Il est possible de les chanter indépendamment, la musique se voulant au service de ces prières d'une grande intensité. / Choeur À 4 Voix Mixtes A Cappella

Aus: Symphoniae Sacrae I. Par SCHUTZ HEINRICH. mit singbarem deutschem Text / Psaumes / Répertoire / Solo B, 4 Trombones (2 Trombones et 2 Violons) et

Aus: Symphoniae Sacrae I. Par SCHUTZ HEINRICH. mit singbarem deutschem Text / Psaumes / Répertoire / Solo B, 4 Trombones (2 Trombones et 2 Violons) et

Górecki's Church Songs, based on melodies from Rev Jan Siedlecki's ?piewniki Ko?cielne ('church songbooks'), were composed in 1986. This edition is based on the PWM edition of 2013, which was produced with the assistance of Anna Górecka and Miko?aj Górecki. A special feature of the Boosey publications is the new, alternative Latin sung text by Edward Tambling, which will be attractive to the many choirs who do not wish to sing in Polish. The Latin text is carefully crafted to fit Górecki's score and is both poetic and sensitive to the devotional aspect of the songs. English translations from the Polish are also included, for reference only.The three publications present the songs for sacred use according to devotional subject-matter. In concert performances the songs, or a selection of them, may be performed in any order and combination. Vol 1 contains six songs in praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The seven songs in vol 2 take the themes of Good Friday, the Crucifixion, The Cross of Christ and the Resurrection. Vol 3 contains seven songs in praise of St Joseph, St Anne and St Nicholas, the Blessed Sacrament, the Trinity and the Black Madonna of Cz?stochowa. / Choeur Mixte (SATB) A Cappella