A Kiss of Three
Opus 11
Soprano, Violin
- The Greeting Kiss
- The Parting Kiss
- The Ocean Kiss from Stop Press! The Secret is Out!
Categories
A Kiss of Three
Tag: music
Categories
The Star in the East
Music
As we celebrate Easter, let us raise our voices together. This song must be sung in the best English!
Christ Jesus the Saviour is, was and will always be famous. His splendid, eternal brightness overwhelms. Stir within you all that is fantastic. It was a Good Friday. Even an important protein in every human is in the shape of a cross. I encourage you to worship God and talk to your neighbour. The Bible says that Christ Jesus was slain before God created. Could that be before Genesis 1:1?
Jesus Christ’s rising from the dead means that there is no time to waste in spreading the full Gospel. His rising, as mentioned in my song, also looks forward to the Day of Ascension when men witnessed the God/man filling the Universe.
So… whenever you see the Sun just think of the famous Star in the East, ware your Polo Whites, greet with a holy kiss and share an English champaign breakfast — quail eggs essential! Champaign with a large ‘C’ optional.
Words to the song:
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Jesus the Saviour
Is famous for ever
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Jesus the Saviour
Is famous for ever
For ever and ever
For every believer
Blink! Blink! Blink!
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Resplendent and bright
The dazzling light
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Resplendent and bright
The dazzling light
For ever and ever
For every believer
Blink! Blink! Blink!
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Encourage your cheer
His rising is here
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Encourage your cheer
His rising is here
For ever and ever
For every believer
Blink! Blink! Blink!
His rising
His rising
His rising
His rising
And higher
And higher
And higher
And higher!
The Star in the east
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
Blink Blink Blink
His rising
His rising
His rising
His rising
And higher
And higher
And higher
And higher!
The Star in the east
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Jesus the Saviour
Is famous for ever
For ever and ever
For every believer
Resplendent and bright
The dazzling light
For ever and ever
For every believer
Encourage your cheer
His rising is here
For ever and ever
For every believer!
Music
For piano.
Imagine… 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ, the God/man, falsely arrested for doing Almighty God’s work. Whipped delirious in a kangaroo court. Abandoned, even denied, by those closest to Him. Forced to carry — only just, but not at all — his own execution equipment. At Calvary Hill He foresees the furious dancing that will split time in two.
My music opens with a dissonant chord sequence — but, it is a dance. A dance with a difference. This cosmic King of the dance floor is dancing — furiously!
His adversary at the scene does a diabolical two-step up the cross, lusting after the transfigured crown of thorns. Authority, it’s all about authority. He wants Jesus Christ to worship him. But, the God/man pummels the beast with His heel.
Dancing, dancing — the King is dancing. Listen to Jesus Christ dancing on the cross. My King — your King — is dancing. He dances furiously and beckons: “Dance with me!”
On the cross the King briefly imagines Sheol before continuing with the pace of the dance. Jesus Christ, the God/man; the darling of every sky; every man’s hopes and dreams; the Son of existence must be forsaken on that Good Friday.
————
A song… Hebrew and Christian. A memory of Egypt… Marching in the wilderness. A memory of the Tabernacle in the wilderness… And… that separating veil:
🎵
“Taa taa taa taa...
Taa, ta ta - ta ta
Taa taa taa…”
🎵
————
On the Saturday, the day after, there was fantastic dancing. Unimaginable. Like never before. Similar to a time before time became time. However, nobody will ever know. All that lived knew only silence on that middle day.
——//——
In exploring arrangements I embellished, extended and/or made changes to the music. I also made effective use of the additional staves afforded. Due to this fact, the title of pieces were paraphrased from opus to opus.
Choral — SATB + Piano
The Separating Veil is Torn!, Opus 10 No. 3 — Excerpt
————
Organ
The Crucify, Opus 9 No. 3a — Excerpt
————
Vocal Chamber Ensemble — Soprano, Tenor, Violin, Harpsichord
EREPTUS!, Opus 8 No. 3 — Excerpt
————
An Arthouse Video
The title of this video production is ALISON — Daughter of Alice. The visual aesthetic is ‘high key’: still photographs using black and white reversal film and music by a contemporary composer.
This high key type of photography is crucial to attain the light and bright tones with little or no shadow akin to Hollywood portrayals of heaven. High key photography can be achieved inside the camera at the time of exposing the frame by increasing the exposure value. If you are using film, then darkroom techniques can be used during developing the film and/or printing onto photographic paper. There are also computer software programs which allow you to lighten either the grey/shadowy areas of an image or the whole image. It was this type of post processing that I used with the black and white reversal film from my SLR camera.
Composing the photographs
From black and white to colour, metaphorically speaking.
The scene is Anerley and Penge, South East London, 2019. The time was a bright summertime before the shops opened. The theme: reflections. Beckenham and Croydon were surveyed but couldn’t match the architecture, infrastructure details, street design, economic demographics and lighting. People were avoided at all costs. The law states that you have to gain consent from people before taking their photograph. Sometimes, my Photomedia degree comes in handy! The idea for the project popped into my mind one sunny day as I was just walking down the high street and happened to notice a reflection in a shop window. Before I know it, the moment had come and gone.
The Lewis Carroll Imperative!
“Curiouser and curiouser!” Alison once exclaimed in her Adventures in Wonderland. On reflection, could she have cried the same thing when Looking Through the Looking-glass? The photographs in this arthouse video are what one might see when looking into a shop window on a sunny day: the contents inside and a reflection of what is outside. Imagery Lewis Carroll would appreciate, even entertain and develop, if he was still around today? Please let me know your thoughts on this idea in the comments sections below. Thank you!
Imagine for a moment this very same Alice grew up, married her sweetheart and wanted a baby boy. But, however, she had a daughter instead. What name do you think she would christen the infant? Alison? And suppose this child grew up and happened to walk down a busy village lane just like Penge?
The Music
Im Paradisum by Karl Jenkins
My instrumentation of the music:
Acoustic piano
Electronic keyboard:
- Piano
- Organ
- Recorder
- Flute
- French horn
- Harp
- Bell
- Cimbles
- Chior
The flute sound in this arthouse video I made into a ringtone for my mobile phone. The reason I chose the tune was because it was so light and bright and distinctive.
Poetry
GOD CREATES was written with the sky in mind and appears in my first book. It was one of the poems that marked the start of an increase in my poetry interests following water damage to my Nikon DSLR camera. In the poem, the second person of the Trinity makes an entry, is crucified, rises from the dead, rises to the skies and returns from filling the universe to be the bridegroom at His wedding feast.
This is the only poem I have written where the title is in capital letters. Can one imagine writing anything of this nature and not use capital letters? For me the answer is: “No”. Even music I have composed on this subject has received the same treatment: a vocal chamber piece, a solo piano piece, a choral piece and an organ piece. These musical pieces, by and large, I estimate are falling within the category of virtuosity.
My GOD CREATES poem also retains, on reflection, elements of virtuosity:
- 10 verses
- 4 lines per verse
- 40 lines in total
- 3 syllables per line
- 12 syllables per verse
- 120 syllables in total
- 2 words per line — except line 39
- 8 words per verse — except last verse
- 80 words minus 1 in total
I am sure these numbers mean something to somebody, somewhere!
Would there be poetry if there was not music? Or, should that be: Would there be music if there was not poetry? I hope your happy conclusion has considered at least one of my poems. Perhaps this one?
The music in the video
G. F. Handel (1685 – 1759), Suite Nr. 4, Sarabande. The stately pomp and majesty of this Spanish dance fitted well with the subject matter of the poem: God and God in the act of creating. The rhythmic structure of the music agrees with the rhythmic structure of the poem.
Handel wrote the music for harpsichord, originally. On this recording I am playing it on my once John Broadwood & Sons piano.
Cecilia Bartoli
As everybody knows
and can plainly see
Is not a saint
Her falsetto warblies
Excites your lows
and mezzo frequencies
Dispelling every complaint
But a Saint — no
But a soprano — yes
and harmonising lows
This is her gift
Coloratura — yes
Beatification — no
but with songs to bless
An intellectual wit
Saint Cecilia the Christian Virgin
Patroness of music and musicians
Her feast day today so begins
Concerts and festivals this occasions
Musicians played on her wedding day
She sang in a heart to the Lord
Her song was guided by a mightier way…
The Holy Spirit. The holy sword.
22nd November 2024
Categories
The Ne Plus Ultras
The Ne Plus Ultras – Songs of a Christian
A classical music album composed for violin, soprano, tenor and piano.
At the start of this project, I decided to give my utmost for His Highest. Even from the inception my subconscious had a concept of perfection: Christianity. This meant it would be artistic and intelligent, drawing on my unique imagination, and, if you like, the mind of Christ – which I have as a Christian. Hence, The Ne Plus Ultras.
This vocal chamber music collection was composed over six months:
December 2023 to May 2024. All the Christian words for these songs are my arrangements from my poems of the same name.
I envisage performances of my music in concert halls and venues nationally and internationally. In the near future, hopefully, I will be very pleased to find a record company who will record this truly other album and share with special people the excellent musical art and poetry. If you are such a company, please respond.
Breadth of content
The album’s narrative begins with the beginning of the beginnings, visiting Jesus as the person God, the terror Old Testament priests faced when they were making atonement in the temple, the post crucifixion ascension, passionate romantic love, Jesus’ peace, comedy in Bethlehem, God’s death angel, elements of God’s wrath when Jesus returns, a quirky – but interestingly blasé – song about Jesus destroying death and ushering in eternity with an uplifting anthem.
Track list as follows:
- GOD CREATES
- He Is The Image
- TORN
- The Star in the East!
- Shulamite
- You Are My Peace
- The Alternative Three Wise Men!
- The Slayer
- The Return of Christ
- The Destruction of Death
GOD CREATES
Power, power, power, power (x2) The 1st Day God said “Let there be light Call the light day Call the darkness night See that the light is good” The 2nd Day God said “Let there be sky Let there be water Let there be dry ground See that it is good” The 3rd Day God said “Let there be days and years And seasons Let there also be stars See that it is good” The 4th Day God said “Let there be creatures in the sea And let birds fly across the sky See that it is good” The 5th Day God said “Let there be creatures on the ground Let there be animals See that it is good” The 6th Day Then God said (x 3) “Let us create man in our image See that this is all very good”
Click here for GOD CREATES on SoundCloud
He Is The Image – This Is My Jesus
1st Chorus
He is glorious
All so beautiful
Yet all mine
Shining radiant
Let us worship Him
He is The Image
Worship Him
Verses 1, 2, 3, 4
I say!
He covers and rules all the regions
Whatever the thrones or dominions
He is the ultimate Champion
This is my Jesus!
He sustains your very existence
Loving and caring with such kindness
Works in you and through you to bless, yes!
This is my Jesus!
I say!
The Father out of His good pleasure
Decided all fullness and treasure
To dwell within Him without measure
This is my Jesus!
His blood brings reconciliation
Away from evil thoughts and actions
Presenting you as pure and holy, wahoo!
This is my Jesus!
2nd Chorus
He is The Image
So take your courage
And touch Him
He is glorious
Shining radiant
All so beautiful
Yet all mine
Let us worship Him
Worship Him
This is my Jesus
Click here for He Is The Image on SoundCloud
TORN
Torn! Torn! Torn! Torn! Torn! Torn! Torn! Torn! Torn, torn, torn, torn Torn, torn, torn, torn In times B. C. We could not see, see, see The glory and the wonder of the LORD The glory and the wonder of the LORD A curtain in place We could not see His face, face, face Only priests dare went to the LORD Only priests dare went to the LORD In fear we stayed Our seeing kept; veiled Could not go direct to the Father But now the veil is gone Torn from top to bottom Torn from top to bottom Torn from top to bottom Torn! Torn! Torn! And Jesus bids us, us, us, us But now the veil is gone Torn from top to bottom Torn from top to bottom Torn from top to bottom Torn! Torn! Torn! And Jesus bids us Enter(!) (x2)
Click here for TORN on SoundCloud
The Star in the East – Blink to the Moon!
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Jesus the Saviour
Is famous for ever
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Jesus the Saviour
Is famous for ever
For ever and ever
For every believer
Blink! Blink! Blink!
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Resplendent and bright
The dazzling light
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Resplendent and bright
The dazzling light
For ever and ever
For every believer
Blink! Blink! Blink!
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Encourage your cheer
His rising is here
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Encourage your cheer
His rising is here
For ever and ever
For every believer
Blink! Blink! Blink!
His rising
His rising
His rising
His rising
And higher
And higher
And higher
And higher!
The Star in the east
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
B-link! Blink! Blink!
Blink Blink Blink
His rising
His rising
His rising
His rising
And higher
And higher
And higher
And higher!
The Star in the east
Blink, blink
Blink to the Moon
Jesus the Saviour
Is famous for ever
For ever and ever
For every believer
Resplendent and bright
The dazzling light
For ever and ever
For every believer
Encourage your cheer
His rising is here
For ever and ever
For every believer!
Click here for The Star in the East SoundCloud
Shulamite
Oh, the shells of my heart Longs for the songs to waft And see her from the start Stark songs so sweet and soft Sing sweetly my Shulamite Sing melodies with your King My treasured one sing tonight Your King, too, a melody will bring A first kiss Kisses one of three To me Her touch so soft Her kiss is so soft So soft Number two Of kisses so true So true The softest kiss With all the sweetness Sweetness Number three Of kisses so free So free The tenderness And all the sweetness Sweetness Here comes the chariot From circling Sun and Moon The Lion of Judah Yearns the Shulamite tune The King, too, sings melodies The Shulamite so desires None shall sing until ready Duets burn like pure fire Sing sweetly my Shulamite Your King yearns your offering My treasured one let us sing tonight Let us never stop our dancing Sing sweetly my Shulamite Sing sweetly my Shulamite Sing sweetly my Shulamite
Click here for Shulamite on SoundCloud
You Are My Peace
Ooh
Ahh
Ooh
Before my eyes o-pen in the morning
At the instance of emerging from sleep
Even before I am aware of anything external
I experience something so powerful and so deep
It is the start of a brand-new day
I rise and prepare for its future
Knowing this peace will not be fazed
Because it is an inexhaustible treasure
Sometimes you can see it in my eyes
Or hear it behind my voice
It has some-thing of eternal life in it
And inwardly I choose to rejoice
When the day turns into history
And I retire in the evening in peace
I rest sweetly on my cosy pillow
And before long I am fast asleep
This peace is from God and it guards me
Jesus left it here two thousand years ago
The first to have it were the Disciples
A special gift you can know
Before my eyes open in the morning
Click here for You Are My Peace on SoundCloud
The Alternative Three Wise Men! Humouresque
From all the way in Lapland
To Bethlehem with presents
Came Santa Claus and Rudolf
Wearing their bright green panties
Santa Claus gave lace up boots
Much bigger than stocking size
He also gave shaving kit
For when Jesus gets baptised
Mr. Spock from the Starship
Came from yonder Galaxy
His gift for the young baby
Was a large tube of Smarties
He also had other gifts
From great planets far and wide
But he lost them all
Oh dear
When the Starship fell over
The third wise man was lanky
He wrote music for the Tsars
Moved from Russia to the States
This Sergei Rachmaninoff
His gift was not all that good
But must be played with left toe
Softly and quietly
A lullaby for a king
A full-size grand piano
Mary is holding You no need for crying
Click here for The Alternative Three Wise Men! on SoundCloud
The Slayer Apocalyptic — with Fugue Form
Soprano, Tenor:
Strings
Strings and trumpets
And trumpets
And trumpets
Strings
Strings and trumpets
And trumpets
And trumpets
Strings
And trumpets
And trumpets
And trum!
Soprano:
Sing, you choir, loud and clear!
Let your voice be heard
Let it pierce the air
Pierce it once, pierce it twice
Angelic hosts
Angelic hosts
Angelic hosts
Pierce it thrice!
Soprano, Tenor:
Move decisively
Move decisively
Move decisively
Left and right
Dance the dance
Day and night
Tenor:
From the slayer
Lightning flashes!
From his eye
From the slayer
Flash!
Soprano, Tenor:
Move decisively
Move decisively
Move decisively
Left and right
Dance the dance
Day and night
Tenor:
From his eye
Lightning flashes!
A time of war
A time of clashes!
The command has come
Slay! Slay! Slay!
You cannot escape
On that dreaded Day
Soprano:
This high music is for you!
Cue higher music, cue
Let it ring
Clear and clarion!
It is for you and you
It is for you
It is your companion
Tenor:
Move, death angel
To and fro
Let all the people know
Yesterday, tomorrow, today
That you, Lord God
Have come to
Slay! Slay! Slay!
Click here for The Slayer on SoundCloud
The Return of Christ
Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory!
Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory!
Spirit calls
Hungry souls
Angels search
Throughout the World
Throughout the World
A trumpet sound
A trumpet sound
Is heard aloud
Is heard aloud
A trumpet sounds
To Earth He comes
To Earth He comes
Our Lord of bounds
Our Lord abounds
On greater clouds
On greater clouds
Our Lord abounds
Then judgement falls
Then judgement falls
As the Lion roars
As the Lion roars
His tongue projects
His tongue projects
Striking nations
Treading winepress
Treading winepress
Of God‘s anger
Of God’s anger
His enemies
His enemies
Cannot escape
Throughout the World
Throughout the World
A trumpet sound
A trumpet sound
Is heard aloud
Is heard aloud
A trumpet sounds
King and Lord of all,
King and Lord of all
Spirit calls
Spirit calls
Hungry souls
Hungry souls
Angels search
Spirit calls
Spirit calls
Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory!
Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory!
Click here for The Return of Christ SoundCloud
The Destruction of Death – The Final Enemy
Chorus Soprano: See you later See you later Later you see See you later Verse 1 Soprano: So He cocked His weapon, did the Beau And aimed it straight at the foe Given it both barrels Obliterating death in one go Chorus Soprano: See you later See you later Later you see See you later Verse 1 - variation Soprano: So He cocked His weapon did the Beau Tenor: You have had your all Soprano: And aimed it straight at the foe Tenor: And breathed your last breath Soprano: Giving it both barrels Tenor: Terminate you Soprano: Obliterating death in one go Chorus Soprano: See you later See you later Later you see See you later Verse 2 Soprano: No longer can it terrorise Tenor: Go and take a hike Soprano: Making people run in fear Tenor: Don’t ever come back Soprano: Playing the fear game Tenor: Terminate you Soprano: Finality and end now the same Chorus Soprano: See you later See you later Later you see See you later Verse 3 Soprano: Yanked and thrown off the train of life Tenor: Don’t ever call us Soprano: Mustering no resistance Tenor: And we won’t call you Soprano: Destroyed forever Tenor: Terminate you Soprano: No longer having an existence Verse 4 — Anthem Soprano and Tenor Now life and love and laughter Embraces fullness and freedom and fraternity And creativity and comfort and compassion Lives in excitement and existence for eternity
Click here for The Destruction of Death on SoundCloud
Tap to stream from the following platforms:
CDs available from myself.
Categories
The Slayer
Prayer Meetings
It is January 2024. I am at church, my local church – sometime before the annual ‘Week of Prayer’.
With a whole twelve months stretching ahead of us, we begin the year before God. I cannot think of a better way to start the year than seeking God in prayer every day for a week as a church and as individuals — also praying for our community, our nation, and the nations. Praying to God at this time of year, and in this way, is so special. I always feel refreshed and sanctified after the Week of Prayer.
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective
James chapter 5, verse 16
Only He holds the keys to the future.
Leap Year
I engage in conversation with someone from church. As we talk I find myself saying, “I am in love with someone”. This is the overflow of my heart. The response, “Well… it is Leap Year!”. Traditionally, a woman can ask a man to marry her on the 29th of February. ‘Normally’, it is the man that proposes to the woman. I hatch a plan: I will propose to my sweetheart on that very day.
M S
I have known M S, my sweetheart, for several years. We first met online on Christian Connection in 2016. I particularly liked her strong Christian Profile. A strong Christian woman with a strong Christian man would be a great match! We could talk about God to each other for a very long time!
Super Spirituality
One day I was reading my Bible and listening to some music. I reached a particular point in that reading at the same time a particular piece of music began to play. As I finished the reading, this piece of music finished at the same time. I took a pen and began to write down what had just happened. As I was writing, my pen dried up. As my pen dried up, M S telephoned me for the first time, and we had our first live conversation. Only almighty God could have orchestrated such a sequence of occurrences. This was super spiritual activity! No man could do what God did! Supernatural activity is God’s hallmark in my life. Sometimes, I feel that there is only God and I in this world — and I burst exclamations and thanksgiving to Him!
Over the years, M S and I roughly sketched out ideas for our future. I am always full of dreams and ideas of a fanciful love nest, coupled with travelling the world in the name of Christianity.
Erm…
The end of February approached. And whoever could read my mind knew what I was going to do: propose to M S.
The day had arrived. When I woke up that morning, it appeared that someone had ambushed my plans; all my intentions, somehow, were frustrated and/or thwarted.
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord
Romans chapter 12 verse 19
Somehow, it felt more like a postponement. Hope deferred makes the heart sick.
I turned to music composition.
At the time, I was about halfway through composing a series of vocal chamber music pieces.
Favourable Reviews
In September 2023 last year, I produced an album of classical music – all composed by myself. I use a top notation software recommended by someone who is admin for an international contemporary classical composers’ group on social media. He also recommended the necessary playback software. Up until that time I was using a low value app, but now I was going professional with the intention of gaining commissions. The high-quality album I had produced was my ‘calling card’.
Around this time there were discussions happening at my church about the desire for more biblical worship songs. Someone even suggested these New Songs could be written together with orchestral arrangements. I received that as an unofficial commission.
Go!
With this fixed in my mind I set about composing for smaller vocal ensembles that could easily be orchestrated. By the end of the year, I had two songs. And by February I had two more. These songs were written in the classical style.
Lyrics
The text for these songs were based on poems I had written about my geometric, abstract artwork created using image manipulation software. Originally, they started life as composed photographs of church buildings. Now, they were abstracted. There are now forty of these artworks in my catalogue. And so, naturally, being a Photomedia Practitioner I made videos of the art.
Each church art piece and video had a title. From this I wrote a poetic representation. This literature formed the basis of my vocal chamber music project. On the morning of Leap Year Day, I decided to draft in another poem not on my original list. In direct reaction to thwarted love I added: The Slayer.
Here is the poem reworked as a song:
Analysis of Lyrics
In my video of the artwork I chose: J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Part 1, For Christmas Day, Chorus. The music opens with timpani drums followed by the playing of stringed instruments and trumpets. In my composition, soprano and tenor literary sing the words: Strings and trumpets.
This is followed by solo soprano singing, in idiomatic style, a description of what the chorus sounds like.
Next, both soprano and tenor sing a description of how the object, which looks like a tank, behaves in the video.
This tanklike object, or Slayer, has an eye that emits flashes of lightning – so the tenor sings. This is followed by manoeuvres across the screen – as sung by the duet.
The tenor then sings of what can only be described as: a time of battles in the heavens where God directs this death angel to mercilessly slay. Only the holy will escape that future apocalypse.
The soprano then points the judgement finger, singing that expiration will be accompanied by high music. The singing of her last line, “It is your companion,” is chilling, because it is delivered in a quiet, low tone – a complete contrast – to underpin the seriousness and finality of the unfolding events.
The tenor finishes by telling us that this Death Angel is obeying God’s command.
A Coffee Morning Concert
After I had drafted these words that morning, I went to a solo piano recital at a church a couple of miles away. Maybe I would get some inspiration as to how to set this down as music.
At the concert in the tea area, conversation was light-hearted and jovial. When the concert was due to start, I sat next to someone who happened to be an art collector. Although I did not recognise her, she recognised me as an artist. A few years ago, she saw one of my art pieces at an exhibition and made the purchase. Naturally, I was delighted.
The concert was an hour long. During the playing of one contemporary piece, I began to hear in my mind’s ear how I was going to compose the music for The Slayer.
As I was leaving the church, I found myself talking with other music appreciators – one of whom was also a pianist. We smiled broadly during conversation, and likewise as we parted.
Analysis of the Music
The vocal chamber ensemble for this series is made up of: Violin, Soprano, Tenor and Piano.
After lunch I started at the piano, initially striking chords and notes that were not in any key. The scratchings I made on manuscript paper were transferred to computer software where I further developed my ideas. The finished piece was a three-part fugue where the violin provided the third line. The violin also answers subjects with further questions. The vocals bring dissonant, hair raising, meaty asides to an otherwise tight and skinny instrumental Dux and Comes, i.e. ‘Leader’ and ‘Companion’.
So, what is a fugue, what does it mean? It is a French word that means ‘flight’. A fugue can also be described as two jumbo jets refuelling in mid-air, one slightly behind the other. Or it can be likened to a chase. Musically speaking, a fugue is a piece of music where two or more independent lines of music entwine one another, one starting later than the other. Of course, there are rules to fugal writing – but the most prolific exponent of the form, J. S. Bach, was notorious for breaking them!
Two examples of fugues: 1) The famous Toccata and Fugue by J. S. Bach, BWV 565. 2) The nursery rhyme London’s Burning.
A Second Layer
The Slayer is composed with 5 beats to the bar. There is also another famous piece in this time signature. It was used decades ago in War of the Worlds adaptations that terrified people. It was also played to young children in a setting which caused them to cry. The piece was Mars – The Bringer of War from The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst. The Hollywood composer John Williams also re-worked the piece, transforming it into Star Wars – particularly the dramatic concluding bars.
A Biblical Perspective
Moses was God’s chosen man to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He went to Pharaoh asking him to release the Hebrew slaves from Egyptian bondage so that they could worship God and live in freedom in another land. Pharaoh refused. Not once, but every time Moses pleaded. Every time Pharaoh said, “No,” God sent a plague. The final plague God sent was death delivered by the Death Angel. This Angel would slay the firstborn of every household. Prior to this deadly plague, Moses was instructed to tell the Israelites to put the blood of a lamb on the door posts and lintels of their homes. When the Death Angel saw the blood of the lamb, he would pass over, and not bring death to the inhabitants. Hence, the Jewish Passover – from which we celebrate Easter. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead on the Sunday after Passover.
The Video
The full title of this composition is: The Slayer – Apocalypse with Fugue Form. I could only have arrived at this definitive during the making of the video. This is a futuristic video with foundations in the past.
The final, finished video is quite striking in terms of editing, special effects and transitions. Fluke, after unbelievable fluke, after unbelievable fluke occurred in the process of making this video that a probability mathematician would find difficult to explain. I read once that occurrences like these gives rise to an intelligence beyond human intelligence.
Love
I need to give and receive love as God designed. The obstruction of this led me to write the words of this song, to compose music hitherto I would not consider, and be the recipient of happy accidents.
After I finished making the video I said to myself, “Only the pure in heart will understand”.
So…
The score is now available to download from my website for interested peoples and musicians, at Michael Bobb Productions. Audio and video recordings:
I use one distributor who distributes my audio to a suite of platforms around the world.
As for different types and sizes of ensemble, yes, The Slayer could enjoy different expressions. A string quartet would be interesting to watch, for example. But, a full-size orchestral sound may give it a different edge, a different understanding.
At the time of composing this piece, it felt like a departure from my usual style. However, since then I have written pieces that could easily wear that label. In fact, every piece in my vocal chamber music series has individuality and character – even idiosyncratic personalities! Above all, they are art.
Here is a list of the ten Vocal Chamber Music pieces in alphabetical order. So far, eight have be completed.
GOD CREATES
He Is The Image
Shulamite
The Alternative Three Wise Men
The Destruction of Death
The Return of Christ
The Slayer
The Star in the East
TORN
You Are My Peace
For more information, visit: https://www.michaelbobb.com
Categories
THE Season #2
A composition for winter
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Sleigh Ride
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Music | Visuals | Words
Enjoy!
Categories
In Search Of The 32
Ludwig van Beethoven.
Beethoven’s thirty-two piano sonatas have been called, by a few, the New Testament of solo keyboard music; J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, the Old Testament.
Let’s get to the matter of the topic: performance. For over thirty years I have been listening to recordings of the 32. Within the music, and between the notes, are essences of Beethoven and his classical/romantic world. Beethoven’s family and family life, and educational development; his forebears and teachers; his own established life as a pianist and composer; antiquity and culture of his time; his muse and acquaintances; even war and politics of his era — all made the man: Beethoven.
Beethoven’s early solo keyboard sonatas were written to be played on harpsichord or fortepiano — this includes sonata no. 8, op. 13 named grand sonate pathétique by the publisher. In my opinion this is because of the soothing, gentle, rocking and emotionally atmospheric elements of the second movement. As harpsichords do not have a sustain pedal, I have played this particular music without pedal — and, to my delight and wonder, it is more poetic. All my sheet music scores shows pedal.
Several years ago I went to Robert Morley & Company based in Lewisham, London looking for a piano. I had a collection of scores as test pieces. Piano after piano were left wanting. And so I took a leap: I tried a piano out of my bracket. It was Beethoven; I heard Beethoven! The piano was a British made Broadwood. Needless to say, Broadwood gave one of their pianos to Beethoven. Could the truth of the 32 be heard in a Broadwood?
Earlier today I received a subscribed email that linked to an article on the thirty-two sonatas. All extracts played on pianofortes. All eminent pianists or musicians with fine interpretations. All Beethoven…?
Michael Bobb – Artist • Author • Occasional Composer
Friday 26th August 2022
This recording includes Sonate Pathétique — without pedal. It is played on an Elysian piano, not a Broadwood. Listen for the poetry… and enjoy the poem!
Splashes of Ink 