A Song for the Earth

 

Click here to view perusal score.

DIFFICULTY: Medium DURATION: c. 16′

INSTRUMENTATION:

2fl, 2ob, 2cl, 2bsn, 4hn, 2tpt, 2tbn, tba, timp, 2perc, hp, pno, strings

perc 1: suspended cymbal, tam-tam
perc 2: bass drum

AVAILABILITY:

A Song for the Earth – Set of Parts and 9×12 Score $150
A Song for the Earth – 9×12 Score $30
A Song for the Earth – Digital PDF of Parts and Score $150
 
Note: The most recent version of the item will be shipped. This may include, but is not limited to, cosmetic changes and revision of musical content (errata).

RECORDINGS:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/159422239″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”100″ iframe=”true” /]Performed by The Orchestra of St. Vincent’s on June 10, 2007
Christopher Ramaekers, conductor

DETAILS:

‘A Song for the Earth’ was composed for the Orchestra of St. Vincent’s in the year of 2007. What began as a work celebrating all aspects of the wonderful world that we inhabit slowly began to take on a morose and somber feeling. At the time when the work was composed, terrorism, international animosity, and general disregard for other human beings had reached an almost unbearable level to me.

The work simplified itself through its iterations and development. No longer was it full of the carefree gusto that it had set out with. As I began to work with and live with the piece, it took on the form of a simple song and, at times, was almost like a lullaby in nature. A subdued melody now expressed through solo instrumentation (flute / trombone) is the presentation of the work’s ‘song’. A chorale figure contrasts this solo figuring, culminating with the entire ensemble performing the chorale at the end of the work. The piece is now presented as a lamentation on our times and being thankful for the world and all that it provides.

Throughout the work, there is a presentation of a traditional form of the ‘Dies Irae’, a choral piece from the traditional religious mass in reference to a day of judgment. This always presented itself during the composition as a dissonant representation of the melody. This seemed like an appropriate reflection on society in that humanity can not continue acting in this way for the sake of our future.

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22