Oratorio first draft completed

Anyone with time on their hands :) to test a draft oratorio? Minimum instruments for the test - harp, organ, timpani, and woodblock, 4 singers. Length about 1.25 hours.

Its name of the work is Unleashing Leviathan. It presents the conflict in creation over the question - what is this mortal humanity. I.e. who are we in relation to the God of the Old Testament.

The musical themes are based on the work of Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura. The design is as follows:

1. The first day, Genesis 1:1-5 Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus. 4

2. The heavens recount the glory of God, Psalm 19:1-7 Recitative, soprano, chorus

3. Man from Uz, Job 1:1, 19-22 . 5Recitative, aria tenor, in English, chorus, harp

4. Disappointment in Yahweh, Jeremiah 20:7 Recitative, bass, Hebrew or English, harp. 7

5. Let it be darkness, Job 3:4-8, Jeremiah 20:14-17 Duet, tenor and bass, harp

6. An oracle, Psalms 110 1,2, 5-7 Recitative, tenor, chorale, organ. 11

7. The second day, Genesis 1:6-8 . 13Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus

8. Where were you? Job 38:4-7 Chorus ATB, harp

9. Acrostics 1 and 2, Psalms 111 and 112, 110:7 reprise . 21Chorale, organ

10. The third day, Genesis 1:9-13 . 27Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus

11. The earth, Psalms 24, Aria alto, chorus. 28, harp

12. Ocean, its limits, Job 38:8-11 Chorus, harp

13. Praise, servants of Yahweh, Psalms 113, 110:7 reprise . 36Chorale, organ

14. The fourth day, Genesis 1:14-19 . 41Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus

15. For I see your heavens, Psalms 8:4-7 Aria tenor, organ, harp. 42

16. The Pleiades, Orion, and the Great Bear, Job 38:31-2 Chorus, organ

17. The heavens’ heavens, Psalms 115:16 Chorus, organ. 45

18. Interlude: The image of a black hole seen through the lens of earth. Organ, timpani 47

19. The fifth day, Genesis 1:20-23 . 49Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus

20. Am I the sea or a dragon? Job 7:12 Chorus, harp. 50

21. Behemoth Job 40:15 Chorus, organ

22. Redemption, Psalms 114:1-3a, Psalms 115:1 . 58Chorale, organ

23. The sixth day, Genesis 1:24-31 . 62Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus
24. Jeremiah 4:23-27

25. What is this humanity, Psalms 144:3, Job 7:17, 19, Psalm 8 reprise Trio, ATB, harp. 64

26. Leviathan, Job 41 (a selection of verses) Chorus, harp. 67

27. Yahweh heard, Psalms 116 Aria soprano, chorus, harp

28. The seventh day, Genesis 2:1-3 . 73Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus

29. Psalms 92, to the Sabbath, Aria alto, chorus
30. Praise, all nations, Psalms 117, Recitative, soprano, chorus, wood block

31. Praise, all breath-bearing, Psalm 150 Chorus, harp, wood block, organ, trumpet, timpani

Appendix 1 - Original scores and notes - these scores, direct from the Scriptures, provided the melodic material for this work.. 81

Here's a bit of the jig for day 6 of creation. This is definitely the funniest part of the text I have set.

Job 41 about the underparts of Leviathan

Please contact me via email or direct message on Twitter @drmacdonald if you are interested. Let me know what resources you have and your contact email.