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Healing the Planet, MMC19
Classical/Cantata • 2010 • Lyricist: old sacred text
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Instrumentation |
Organ, Trumpet, Tubular Bells, Marimba, Vibraphone, Cymbals, Soprano, Tenor, Bass, Tom-tom, Maracas, Crotales, Mixed choir: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass |
Scored for |
Soloists, Trio, Choir |
Type of score |
Full score, Parts |
Movement(s) |
1 to 4 from 4 |
Publisher |
ArtifexMusic |
Language |
English |
Difficulty |
Medium |
Duration |
20'15 |
This is a Cantata for amateur choir (SATB), soprano, tenor and bass soloists, trumpet, organ and percussion. It is in four movements and last just over 20 minutes and was written in 2010, with finishing touches made in 2011.
My purpose for writing this Cantata was to look at the questions about the environment, climate change, etc. from a spiritual perspective. I wrote most of the words as well as quoting from the writings of the Persian mystic ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abbás Effendi and His grandson, Shoghi Effendi. The four movements are:
1. State of Crisis, a dialogue between the soprano and chorus highlighting the problems that mankind is causing the planet and recognising that it must be healed.
2. Change of Heart opens with quotes from Shoghi Effendi, sung by the tenor soloist, that show how we need to reframe our conceptions, in particular, not to segregate the human heart from the environment. The chorus reacts and discusses the quotes.
3. Spiritual Revelation opens with a quote from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, sung by the bass soloist, showing how the human heart should change. Again the chorus reacts to this and the soprano tries to bring understanding to the minds of the people.
4. Vision of the Future is a setting of a quote from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about how He sees the future for the planet, once mankind has understood and acted. Choir and soloists join in a united voice.
The work as a whole is very dramatic, and presents the conflict between human behaviour and both scientific and religious teachings. The three instruments are not mere accompaniments, but add much colour and drama to the text settings.
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