3rd Prize Winner in Ora Singers Open Composer Competition 2019

TEXT
Words from Dum Transisset Sabbatum
INSTRUMENTATION
SSAATTBB
DURATION
ca. 6′
WRITTEN FOR
ORA SIngers
PUBLISHER


PROGRAMME NOTE
My piece is a reflection upon Dum transisset Sabbatum by John Taverner (1490-1545). The word reflection has two meanings, to physically reflect and to contemplate, so I decided to approach the task from two perspectives; the audible and the abstract, hence the homonymous title Reflecting Taverner. The rich tonal language of Taverner is reflected in the harmonic landscape of my piece. Only five words – Sabbatum, Maria, aromata, Jesum, Alleluia – of the original text remain in my work, all of which bear resonant vowels to allow a rich choral sound. I have also attempted to make the choir sound as if heard from afar or possibly from outside a church, with humming and occasionally chopping the words into syllables. The choir is split into two groups of four set apart from each other, to allow a certain amount of echo effect and call and response type of interplay. A hushed, distant chorale begins the piece. Words start to emerge. The music soon reaches the climax on the word ‘aromata’ (spices) which is emphasized and reiterated across the choir. This is a word that is also emphasised in Taverner’s setting, through extensive melisma. By the end, the music has stabilised and reached a whole new place harmonically, with the repetition of the words ‘Jesum’ and ‘Alleluia’.

PERFORMANCES
04 JUNE 2025
Kamarikuoro Kampin Laulu, conducted by Saara Aittakumpu
Inkoon kirkko, Inkoo, Finland

27 MAY 2025
Kamarikuoro Kampin Laulu, conducted by Saara Aittakumpu
Saksalainen kirkko, Helsinki, Finland

23 MARCH 2025 (✦ Finland premiere)
Kamarikuoro Kampin Laulu, conducted by Saara Aittakumpu
Meilahden Kirkko, Helsinki, Finland

27 JULY 2019 (✦ World premiere)
ORA Singers, conducted by Suzi Digby
King’s College Chapel, London, United Kingdom

SCORE VIDEO

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