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Joy, Praise, Hope
Classical/Contemporary • 2010 • Lyricist: old sacred text • Alternative Title: Psalm/Mantra Music
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Instrumentation |
Mixed choir |
Scored for |
Choir |
Type of score |
Vocal score |
Movement(s) |
1 to 4 from 4 |
Translator |
Unknown (works before 1850) |
Publisher |
Barbara Ulman |
Language |
English, Sanskrit |
Difficulty |
Advanced |
Duration |
11'16 |
The idea for this piece came to me out of the blue in the high mountains of California. It sent me to music school, and came to fruition when I was ready, 34 years later.
Individual movements:
Psalm 100: Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord 2:30
Psalm 121: I Will Lift up Mine Eyes 2:30
Psalm 23 The Lord Is My Shepherd 2:50
Psalm 118:24 This Is the Day (fugue) 3:15
Each Psalm is sung simultaneously with a Sanskrit mantra which means "Evil vanishes from life for one who keeps the sun in his heart."
The entire work should flow seamlessly from start to finish, with a quarter-note overlap when the mantra begins in the next section of the chorus. Never use the piano in a performance; it is only for help during rehearsals.
In the score, the mantra is marked "mp" most of the time. The conductor should adjust the dynamics so that the mantra is audible but not dominant. Singers: Do not roll the r’s in the mantra.
Fourth movement: Notated clearly, but easy to miss: when singing the mantra, the sopranos change key in measure 64.
Barbara Ulman 23 Oct 2012 05:43
In Maine, "The Rangeley Highlander" published an article about me by Dale Hill, who interviewed me and listened to my CD. Here's my favorite sentence: "The cumulative effect [of 'Joy, Praise, Hope'] is a hypnotic oscillation between chant-like calm and anthem-like exaltation, with the mantra providing an obligato that twines in fascinating counterpoint with the psalms, as well as dramatic key modulations and leading eventually to repose.”
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