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
2. The heavens recount the glory of God, Psalm 19:1-7 Recitative, soprano, chorus
4.
Disappointment in Yahweh, Jeremiah 20:7 Recitative, bass, Hebrew or English, harp
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
7. The
second day, Genesis 1:6-8 Recitative, 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 Chorale, organ
10. The
third day, Genesis 1:9-13 Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus
11.
The earth, Psalms 24, Aria alto, chorus , harp
12.
Ocean, its limits, Job 38:8-11 Chorus, harp
13.
Praise, servants of Yahweh, Psalms 113, 110:7 reprise Chorale, organ
14.
The fourth day, Genesis 1:14-19 Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus
15.
For I see your heavens, Psalms 8:4-7 Aria tenor, organ, harp
16.
The Pleiades, Orion, and the Great Bear, Job 38:31-2 Chorus, organ
17.
The heavens’ heavens, Psalms 115:16 Chorus, organ
18.
Interlude: The image of a black hole seen through the lens of earth. Organ, timpani
19.
The fifth day, Genesis 1:20-23 Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus
20. Am
I the sea or a dragon? Job 7:12 Chorus, harp
21.
Behemoth Job 40:15 Chorus, organ
22.
Redemption, Psalms 114:1-3a, Psalms 115:1 Chorale, organ
23.
The sixth day, Genesis 1:24-31 Recitative, soprano, in Hebrew, harp, chorus
24. Jeremiah 4:23-27
24. Jeremiah 4:23-27
25.
What is this humanity, Psalms 144:3, Job 7:17, 19, Psalm 8 reprise Trio, ATB, harp
26.
Leviathan, Job 41 (a selection of verses) Chorus, harp
27.
Yahweh heard, Psalms 116 Aria soprano, chorus, harp
28.
The seventh day, Genesis 2:1-3 Recitative, 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
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.
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.
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