messiah reimagined @handel1 LEC Birthday th messiah reimagined

PART 1 Concert 2018 1. Awake my soul – Chan Symphony 20 2. Thy Peace Be Like A River – Chan LEC’s Desiderata: finding the whole Comfort Ye from fragments 3. Every valley shall be exalted– Chance Ev’ry valley shall be exalted”

Go placidly amid the noise and haste 4. Ave Maria – Basden …silence A virgin shall conceive Speak your truth quietly, clearly 5. Sea chronicles 2– Stanhope Oh thou that tellest good tidings to Zion Be gentle on yourself 6. Vidit lucem magnum – Gibson Listen to others The people that walked in darkness In January, under the influence of the superb Even the dull and ignorant have their story surf and all the head space and possibilities for 7. The gift – Whitwell Be gentle with others creativity that a decent holiday will bring, I decided For unto us a child is born that the only thing to do to truly celebrate the Avoid comparisons 8. Daybreak – Kats Chernin incredible choir which I founded all of twenty years Your spirit may become vain and bitter. ago, was of course to reimagine the most famous choral work of all time - the Messiah!! Surely that Be. Gently. PART 11 9. The lord is my shepherd – Byrne would give our audience, musicians and choristers Be yourself something to sing about? What a unique opportunity There were shepherds in the fields abiding Enjoy your achievements, your labours to once again draw upon the creative genius of 10. The word is peace – Walker the composers who I have been privileged to work Do not feign affection, love Glory to God with over the years to together create something Love is as perennial as the grass collectively greater than ourselves - something that 11. Our sorrows – Howes speaks directly to our times, our concerns, our hopes the trees, the stars. He Was Despised, Surley He Has Borne Our Grief and to the way we want our world to be… and so it Dark imaginings 12. His yoke is easy – Elsley began. Vexations 13. All we like sheep – Benedict I could NEVER have imagined how profoundly Fears born of fatigue and loneliness. beautiful and energising these works would be for us 14. Do Not Be Discouraged -Markerink Be gentle with yourself. Their sound is gone out all - and what wonderful musical gems would flood my inbox week by week - as we embarked on this rather Little one, 15. How beautiful are they who love – Barker ambitious program. The generosity of the composers, You have a right to be here How beautiful are the feet their thoughtful reimagining, the enthusiasm of the choristers to learn an entire program of new works The universe is unfolding 16. Hallelujah chorus – Barker - and their ongoing support for this reimagining - As it should. has left me yet again feeling incredibly grateful that PART 111 Surrender gracefully gentle one. such a community of people exists - People who 17. I know my redeemer liveth - Pahos believe in creative risk taking, who wish to support Be at peace with Sophia the creation of new work, and the idea of leaving a 18. Since by man came death – Burton whatever you conceive Her to be birthday gift that will be performed again and again 19. The trumpet shall sound - Masden is incredibly gratifying. This whole process has truly Keep peace with your soul encapsulated what the LEC has stood for for the last Find the Gentle within. 20. Darkness cannot drive out darkness – Walker 20 years - a brave heart and a generosity of spirit. Worthy is the Lamb Bravo and happy birthday LEC - You have helped Be….. 21. Before the throne - Brophy create something extraordinary for us all - may the Amen celebrations last long into the night!! Elisabeth Burke 2 3 alongside the original King James Bible in Messiah. Awake My Soul My guiding principle is to not alter any of Handel and Music by Lyle Chan Jennens, but to increase depth by layering.

Awake, My Soul Out of the deepest respect for Muslims and Mormons, (Sinfony for Voices) of course I do not quote the scriptures, but I fashion mine after their inspiration to convey the joyous meaning. Read! Behold, the Word of God, Every Valley Who taught by the pen, Music by Alice Chance, The Word of God the world knew not. Thy Peace Be Like A River Behold, the Angel! Every valley shall be exalted Read! Behold, the Word of Truth, Thy Peace Be Like A River (Comfort Ye) And every mountain and hill caressed, That came by the pen, none missed The Word of Truth the world knew not. Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God. The crooked cherished Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, And rough places kissed Awake, my soul, that her warfare is accomplished, that her Iniquity is Rejoice, my heart, pardoned. Every facet, vice or asset, shall be No longer droop! exalted I am as calm as a summer morning. Thy peace be as a river, And every effort, if true, shall be The sun, the moon, the stars gives light, Thy virtues be as waves upon the sea. received gratefully As they roll upon their wings. On earth and in yourselves, The battle to be good There are signs of Truth, do you see them? Itself a victory The faithful shall rise, Do you see the signs of Heaven? The Ev’ry Valley movement from Handel’s Messiah, beloved by Tenors the world over, The pure heart will rise, As angels bring you to the light. has inspired my composition Every Valley. The original is famous for its overt word- The virtuous shall rise, painting. The music leaps and plummets as led by the contours of the landscape it Their light shall shine, There is no creature that walks the earth, describes. Ostentatious, dexterous melismas inspire awe at the power and the glory of The faithful with pure heart, Or flies with wings, God. Many performers of this work seem to exude a desire for this audience awe to be Shall rise to heaven. Except they are just like you. directed at their own power and glory instead. The roads and the rivers and mountains In the angel Gabriel’s first vision to Muhammad, the Gladly guide you. I have created a poetic and musical response to this movement. The original biblical prophet is instructed to read, because God teaches text uses ‘exalted’ in its archaic literal meaning: ‘raised up’. The verses speak of how lylechan.com by the pen. The revelations eventually become the God will eventually smooth out the Earth. A common misinterpretation is that ‘exalted’ Qur’an. This is the beginning of Islam. I am a lover means ‘praised’ in this context, implying that all of God’s landscape should be of books and writing, and such a tale is exhilarating praised. I have used this misconception as a springboard into a poetic and musical to me: that revelation is literary. It’s a wondrous story ode to accepting and loving things as they are. I am seeking to honour the diverse I’ve known my entire life, because I was born in a landscapes of human bodies, as well as the efforts of their occupants. Muslim country and lived there my first twelve years. To have words where there were no words before – Alice Chance is a sought-after composer with a flare for the human voice. Her this is the perfect allegory for the transformation of the music is performed in concert halls (Sydney Opera House, The Kennedy Centre, instrumental Overture of Messiah into a ‘Sinfony for City Recital Hall Angel Place) and cathedrals (St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney, Stanford Voices’. Memorial Church California, Trinity Church Wall St New York City.) But it is also sung in auditoriums, paddocks and showers all around . Ensembles which have The so-called Abrahamic religions have more in commissioned or premiered Chance’s work include The Australian Brandenburg common than they don’t. Christians don’t generally Orchestra, The Song Company, The Australia Piano Quartet, Gondwana Choirs, and know, for instance, that Muslims regard Isaiah as Ensemble Offspring. Alice has been composer in residence with the multi-APRA- a prophet, the same Isaiah whose words are in Award-winning Moorambilla Festival from 2013-15 and will return in 2018. Australian Messiah’s ‘Comfort Ye, My People’. The irony of our school children are finding that Alice Chance’s music is becoming a staple in their global conflict on religious lines is that it is between choir’s repertoire. Alice calculates that at least five thousand children have publicly people who share so much. performed her music since 2012. alicechance.com Another Abrahamic religion with truly beautiful writing is the Latter Day Saints movement. Regardless of their faith, well-read people everywhere regard the Bible as great literature, and so too it is with other books of faith, including the Qur’an and Mormon scriptures that I have allowed to be my inspiration for new texts 4 5 Sea Chronicles 2 Music by Paul Stanhope

Sea chronicles has been reimagined as a solo for Soprano sax and chamber strings as a response to the text set for Alto soloist in the original.

“ oh thou that tellest good tidings to zion - get thee up unto the high mountain, lift up thy voice, with strength, lift it up and be not afraid, shine for thy light is come, arise for thy light is come and the glory of the lord is risen upon thee”

Paul Stanhope (b. 1969) is a Sydney-based composer and a leading figure in his generation of Australian composers. In 2011 he was awarded two APRA/ Australian Music Centre Awards for Instrumental Work of the Year and Vocal/Choral Piece of the Year and in 2015 was a finalist for the Orchestral Work of the Year. Paul is also the recipient of a Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship for 2013-2014 – the first composer to be granted this honour.

2014 saw the premiere of Jandamarra: Sing for the Vidit Lucem Magnum Country a major new dramatic cantata based on the Music by Josephine Gibson Ave Maria life of the Western Australian Indigenous resistance hero. It has been hailed as a work of major cultural For darkness shall cover the earth, and sorrow the troubled seas Music by David Basden significance. But lift up your eyes; your loved ones come to you– As one, we chart the voyage home. Ave Maria, Gratia plena, Dominus tecum; A CD of his choral works ‘Lux Aeterna’, recorded by Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam benedicta tu in mulieribus, Sydney Chamber Choir with the composer directing, (the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light) et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus. was released on ABC Classics in 2017 following on Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ora pronobis peccatoribus, from Stanhope’s ten year stint as musical director Vidit lucem magnum takes its title from the Book of Isaiah in the Latin Vulgate bible, translated nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. of the choir. He currently holds the post of Senior as ‘they [the people] have seen a great light.’ The text itself is adapted from various passages Amen Lecturer in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Isaiah, cobbled together and reworked into a small biblical vignette. of Music, University of Sydney and is also the Artistic In Isaiah, the ‘people in darkness’ refers to the various nations under the Assyrian empire, David Basden has been involved in the Australian Chair of the Australia Ensemble at UNSW. while the ‘great light’ they look to refers to the King Hezekiah, who would represent a return to music scene since the early 80s, variously as a tuba paulstanhope.com Judean rule. To early Christians, the book of Isaiah held many parallels with Jesus Christ who, and electric bass-player, arranger, composer and as a manifestation of the kingdom of God, inspired hope that the same kingdom would one producer. day become a reality. For Charles Jennen’s original libretto for the Messiah, these became more than parallels, working directly into the theological lineage of Christ. For over a decade he was a staff arranger with The Midday Show, a nationally networked television Common to all these interpretations is the unrelenting prevalence of hope amidst great sorrow. variety program. He was extensively involved with Reframing the text to include the imagery of boats on troubled seas is a deliberate evocation Musica Viva in Schools as a player, arranger and of the plight of asylum seekers held off-shore. Although purporting to speak on behalf of their composer, and was a founding member of Monica hopes and fears rings hollow, the ‘great light’ I believe overcomes most of the darkness of and the Moochers. He wrote approximately 70 songs today is the love between people - between children and parents, between friends, between with Monica Trápaga during her time with Playschool siblings, between partners. – Tigers, one of the songs from that collaboration, was awarded the 1993 APRA Prize for Children’s As to how this relates to the music, I’ve used two elements of Handel’s ‘The People That Walked Composition of theYear. In Darkness’ as a homage to the original. The first is a quotation of the original Bb minor theme, leading into my opening B flat minor melody; the second is a prolonged section in unison David now concentrates solely on composition, with octaves between the strings and vocal parts. The rest of the work is just extrapolating musical an emphasis on works for the voice. lines from contemplating Isaiah’s poetry of hope and darkness. Australianmusiccentre.com.au Moorambilla.com

6 7 Daybreak Music by Elena Kats Chernin

Elena Kats-Chernin is an Australian composer, resident in Sydney. Her vibrant and uplifting music has been performed and recorded by several symphony, opera and ballet companies and featured at the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Eliza Aria from Meryl Tankard’s ballet Wild Swans, along with the Russian Rag, have become Elena’s most recognisable pieces.

She has received many prestigious prizes such as the Helpmann, Limelight, Sounds Australian, As composition briefs go, this one was Sydney Theatre Award and the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award. In 2017 ABC Classics have The Gift unusually poetic. It’s exactly the kind of released a comprehensive 10 CD Boxset Collection of her music. Her most recent operatic Music and text by thing I want to hear in a brief because it premiere was her 2nd adaptation of Monteverdi’s Coronation of Poppea for Barrie Kosky’s Sally Whitwell provides the actual inspiration for the thing production at the Komische Oper Berlin in 2017. She also created a children’s opera Snow White for she wants me to write. Most briefs will give the Komische Oper in 2016. you little more than a general idea of the Barefoot in grass topic, the instrumentation and voicing, Her piece Orfeo for mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital and Giocoso String Quartet has attracted high The beetles and twigs, and a description of the skill level of the praise at its Musica Viva 2018 premiere season. Fistfuls of flora in my bare hands ensemble. They don’t give you colourful Spinning through space prose musing on the meaning of our This new work written especially for this performance draws its inspiration from the instrumental Imperceptible orbit, constantly moving, existence. But Michelle’s did. Pifa in the original - quoting some of the ascending melodic lines in the saxophones while joyously unbearably still, celebrating the start of a new day. Humorously Elena has quoted that rather infamous “black note The text came pouring out of my head knuckle tune” loved by beginner pianists everywhere ... listen out for it! The meadow slopes toward the water pretty fast, initially as a kind of exercise in boosey.com Reflections on the glassy deep of the uni- word association. Soon, however, a theme verse above us where I know your soul it emerged of it’s own accord, that of the transience of our physical existence as 2017, they were the winners of the John Lamble sleeps humans on earth being just one phase of The Lord Is My Foundation Australasian Championship for Youth our existence across time and space. Our Choirs and were awarded the People’s Choice Far beyond and yet so close Shepherd lives seem so big to us, so important, until Award and Best Performance of an Australian I reach out to touch your star we put ourselves in this bigger context and Music by Luke Byrne Composition at the Australasian Choral Grand And you’re standing here beside me whilst realise we are just an infinitesimal speck in Prix. In 2016, the choir toured to New York Meriden Senior Singers are honoured to join you’re watching from afar an infinite universe. for the Choirs of America Festival where they For unto us this gift is given the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus for their 20th performed at the Empire State Building, Trump Birthday celebrations. They are an auditioned The wonder of this blue-green sphere, the Part of the brief was also to respond to a Tower, the Cathedral of St John the Devine ensemble featuring girls from Years 9-12 shining dome above is bursting movement from Handel’s Messiah, in my and in Carnegie Hall. They perform a variety and are conducted by Jodie Spooner-Ryan, With light and colour, year after year. case the chorus For Unto Us A Child is of repertoire, with an emphasis on Australian their accompanist is Bethany Cook. The choir Born. You’ll certainly recognise when I’ve choral works. Last year, the school celebrated competes in eisteddfods, performs regularly for “I want people to feel like they will get a quoted some of the themes, particularly their 120th Anniversary with a concert in City school and community events and services. In better understanding of their place in the in the saxophones. At other times, the Recital Hall, Angel Place, where the Senior wider universe… how precious life is - how reference is a bit more subtle! Singers performed with the Meriden Symphony fragile the earth is - and how wondrous the Orchestra. gift of human kindness is… that enormity of I dedicate The gift to my dear friend Emma, To find out more about Luke Byrne pkease visit the night sky - and that feeling of knowing and to the memory of her late husband Jeff. gondwana.com you are somehow connected to everyone sillywhatwell.weebly.com and everything but not”. Michelle Leonard

8 9 itself: Immediately after the announcement of Jesus’ birth, Luke describes the angel being joined by “a Our Sorrows multitude of the heavenly host” (2:13). The word Music and Text by Andrew Howes ‘host’ here literally means ‘army’; God has not only appeared in this passage but is arrayed for battle. The When considering the movements ‘He was despised’ and ‘Surely He hath borne our griefs,’ both of which great irony is that the Lord of armies has arrived not to address Christ as the saviour of humanity, I couldn’t help but ask myself the question - where does our salvation bring a message of war, but of peace. truly come from? My unequivocal answer to that question is us and, more to the point, it only takes compassion to unlock our desire to help those in need. Like many Australians, I am appalled by the treatment of Asylum In my reimagining of this movement, I have maintained seekers on our shores and elsewhere, and although the same sort of tribalism and xenophobia is woven the pastoral-nature of Handel’s original, even making throughout the old testament, the new testament, and the Handel/Jennens Messiah, invites us to help those who direct musical reference. The text I have chosen also are suffering. To reflect the two movements I was inspired by, my work Our Sorrows is in two parts - one asks plays to the juxtaposition of Luke’s account of God’s the question, the other seeks an answer. message: That the word of peace, while often at first merely an almost inaudible groundswell, ultimately The musical language draws a lot from Baroque ornamentation and from harmonic figurations such as the resonates far louder than the cacophony of war and passus duriusculus, a latin term from the Baroque period connoting difficulty or sadness through the use of destruction. a descending chromatic line. The beginning of both my piece and Handel’s ‘He was despised’ draws from baroque court fanfares. Where he uses strings, I have used saxophones to give the piece a more mournful tone. Dotted rhythms are used in imitation of the Handel also, which in his music relates to the French performance Darkness Cannot Drive practice of his day, notes inégales, music that often is associated with royalty.

Out Darkness It’s a strange thing trying to translate Baroque intentions into a modern piece - on the one hand, these Music by Dan Walker ornaments and musical ideas were capable in their day of conveying the grandeur and sadness of Handel’s Text by Martin Luther King Junior intention, but likewise, we can’t possibly understand them the same way that his audience did, because we have such a wildly different experience of life. I have tried to draw some things from the Handel that, to my mind, remain relatable, but especially in the second part of my piece, I have tried to bring in some of the “Who can reveal to us the destiny of the world; who modern rhythmic and harmonic language that classical music audiences recognise today, perhaps in reflection can unfold, for us, the meaning of history?’ This of the idea that our problems are always forward-facing, that we have come far from the way we once were, yet is essentially the premise of Revelations 5:11-14, The Word is Peace still have far to go. Music by Dan Walker ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain’. There is a hidden dichotomy to God; if Jesus comes as a conquering Andrew has recently graduated from Text by Maya Angelou hero, he also comes as victim. the Manhattan School of Music, having completed his Master of In our joy, we think we hear a whisper There are many such ‘martyrs’ through history with Music (Composition). He studied At first too soft. which this resonates, but perhaps most recently none under Susan Botti, and also studied more than Martin Luther King Jr. For this reimagined Then only half heard, with Alison Kay and Simon Holt work, I have chosen to take a selection of MLK’s We listen carefully as it gathers strength. whilst completing his Bachelor most iconic and relevant quotes; words that echo We hear a sweetness, of Music at the Royal College of the questions posed by the Revelations verse. Martin The word is Peace. Music in London, where he was Luther King knew, that his fight for equality and It is louder now, it is louder, louder than the explosion the recipient of the Clifton Parker recognition was not one he would see through in his award. He has composed for a wide of bombs. own lifetime, but through charity and compassion that variety of ensembles, including We, Angels and Mortals, Look Heaven-ward and day could perhaps arrive that much sooner. speak the word aloud. the Sydney Symphony, the Kasba Trio, Moorambilla Voices, the Song Peace. Musically I wanted to make reference to the structure Company, and the Enigma Quartet. We look at our world and speak the word aloud. of Handel’s original, with contrasting declamatory His longstanding association with chords from the choir and ascending, almost defiant Moorambilla Voices includes the role For me, the chorus ‘Glory to God in the highest’ instrumental passages, followed by more lilting of composer in residence for their presents an interesting juxtaposition of several key polyphonic vocal writing. The movement ends with the APRA award-winning 10th and 11th themes, both theologically and musically. As a listener, refrain of one of MLK’s most memorable quotes: ‘The seasons. we have already been made aware of the events time is always right to do what is right.’. The promise andrewhowescomposer.com leading up to this moment; shepherds abiding in the of revelation is not the proclamation of an easy victory fields, tending their sheep, whereupon a messenger – that his people will not suffer and endure pain. of God appears, announcing the arrival of Christ. This Rather, it is a great proclamation of ‘nevertheless’. moment is captured musically by a distinctly pastoral “Nevertheless”, he says, “my Kingdom shall come and approach. What is perhaps most unexpected is the my will be done”. contrast between the messenger and the message danwalkercomposer.com 10 11 Kathleen Routh, Barbara Rysenbry, Marina Shine, Louise Silburn, Glenda Stone, Lea Tietzel, Kate Wade, Christine Walters, Leichhardt Espresso Chorus Messiah Reimagined Lindie Ward, Linda Wills, Janet Wills, Crista Wocadlo, Leanne Wrightson Gunilla Anderson, Daisy Andrews, Polly Bernard, Suzanne Blythin, Wilhelmina Brown, Elisabeth Burke, Soprano: Tenor: David Allen, Rod Barltrop, Tim Cheung, Mark Egelstaff, Philip Godfrey, Rhys Hardwick-Jones, Tom Knapp, Meg Callander, Louise Cantrill, Penny Chapple, Lliane Clarke, Mieke Cohen, Catherine De Lorenzo, Maria De Sousa, Geordie Marsh, Rob McKnight, Brian White, Jacob Williams Shae Fleming, Kathy Green, Annette Hagerman, Gwyn Jones, Jeanne Kinninmont, Sue Lindsay, Sara Marshall, Margo Moore, Patricia Pearse, Gill Pennington, Jan Redman, Michelle Rollins, Sian Rudge, Lucy Scott, Gemma Thomas, Penelope Trathen, Bass: Stu Annels, Roy Giles, Paul Collett, Philip Coote, Mike Dunkley, Jim Fleming, Richard Goodman, David Harvey, Pat Veenendaal, Bo Xu Paul Heath, Craig Marcombe, John Marshall, Adam Smith, Michael Smith, Tim Smyth, Andrew Sweeney, Warwick Van Ede, Mike Webb Alto: Adriana Adamo, Helen Bailey-Cooke, Nic Beard, Gabby Bermingham, Therese Berrigan, Lauren Bortolazzo, Alex Budge, Sarah Burton, Lesley Carnus, Debby Cramer, Georgie Cropper, Lesley Dawes, Sophie Fickler, Natalie Freeman, Chloe Hardwick-Jones, Louise Harkness, Jurate Janavicius, Alison Jaworski, Chiemi Keniry, Helen Kerr-Roubicek, Anne Kricker, LEC committee : Lliane Clarke President, Michelle Leonard Vice President and Artistic Director, Pepe Newton Lizzie Leusink, Lisa Maffina, Lindy McAllister, Susan McCarthy, Corinne Mesana, Janet Millar, Julie Millard, Francesca Molluso, Secretary, Mike Dunkley Treasurer, Ordinary members: Georgie Cropper Librarian, Bronwyn Neal, Membership Melinda Beck, Cynthia Moore, Bronwyn Neal, Chiara Neto, Pepe Newton, Diane Paul, Miriam Poole, Caroline Pugh, Monica Raven, Ristretto Co ordinator Warwick van Ede, Miriam Poole, Kathy Green. Special thanks to Jodie Spooner Ryan for her assistance in rehearsals in preparation for this concert. 12 13 His Yoke Is Easy Do Not Be Discouraged Music by Owen Elsley Music by His yoke is easy, her burden light So rest they find together, together the day is bright Joscelyn Markerink No yoke or burden can turn the day to night. Do not be discouraged that all things break His yoke is easy, in its traditional setting, speaks of coming to Jesus For even the bones of broken trees endure to find relief from the heavy burdens of one’s life; this re-imagining, - framing the walls of home however, takes a more humanist approach. Using the original text, For even the bones of broken trees endure into quoting the Gospel of Matthew, as both a basis and a point of all lands departure, His yoke is easy, Her burden light explores the ease and lightness that comes from togetherness; that though there are times And their words unto the ends of the world of darkness and heavy burdens to bear, “together the day is bright”. Their sound is gone out into all lands After opening with a slightly laborious, lumbering instrumental interlude, the music moves towards treading more gently on the Their sound will go out is a recontextualization earth, hinting even at skipping by setting text in five with an arching of Handel’s movement by the same name from vocal melody. The opening motif returns, this time sung by the the Messiah. The work was written for Double choir and with a more positive angle, before settling on a gentle, SSAA Chorus (specifically Leichhardt Espresso contented joyfulness. Chorus and Meriden Treble Choir) and Piano [email protected] accompaniment. The original libretto read: “Their sound will go out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the earth”. This text shone through to me, as it provides a refreshing point within the grandeur of the Messiah where the All We Like Sheep focus shifts from God and onto the power of humankind. For this reason, I chose to centre the Music by Roman Benedict piece around the tenacity and grit that women generate through their alliance. This movement is a moment of levity and delight in the middle of the emotional and spiritual intensity of The The first half of the work features a still, but Messiah. Even while singing in very serious cathedral grounded, lullaby, opening with the text: “do not be discouraged that all things break”. The choirs performances, I remember finding so many things to softly echo the sentiment, and remind each other that even the broken bones of a tree are able laugh at and enjoy in this music. I wanted to bring out to live again within beautiful structures. The second half then bursts forward with the addition of that feeling of all being in on the joke together: the music the piano into an uplifting recontextualisation of Handel’s original melody – an exemplar of the is so joyful and the words so deadpan that I decided to sentiment presented in the first half. The choirs call out in canon to each other, finally arriving at a rework Handel’s material to reflect the ways that choirs homogenous exclamation. everywhere have to avoid making themselves laugh as they find themselves singing beautiful music with Throughout this piece, the female voice remains affirmative, strong and compassionate. Strong accidentally silly words. women have been a great inspiration for me in all areas of my life, and this piece aims to gloriously celebrate “their sound”. Roman Benedict is a composer and arranger based in London. He moved to London from Sydney to study Joscelyn Markerink is an Australian composer, pianist, singer, music teacher and artist. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and then composition and Music Education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has gone on to hung around to see what happened - since then, his specialise within works that explore the capabilities of the human voice. Her musical output strives compositions and arrangements have been performed to be accessible, idiomatic and ensemble-focused. Most recently, she has been lucky enough to in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Europe write for brilliant Australian ensembles such as Gondwana Voices and Coro Innominata. and Asia, and broadcast on radio and online. His Josmarkerink .com orchestral arrangements have been played by The Hallé, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, and education projects in the UK and Australia. He released his first album of string quartets, Eventide, in 2016. Romanbenedict.com

14 15 How Beautiful Are They Who Love Music and text by Kevin Barker

Cold sorrow looms, shrouds with its pall And hopelessness burrows in our souls Long shadows fall and smother peace I Know My Redeemer Liveth What light will bring relief? Music by Anastasia Pahos Then give your love, for love can heal Bring peace and light to all who feel This re-imagining of ‘I know that my redeemer How beautiful are they who love! liveth…’ from Handel’s eighteenth century Messiah showcases the deeper, mature tones of the alto Kevin Barker is a Sydney-born composer who’s had choral voice. Using a smaller ensemble from the a diverse career in music as both composer and choir helps to highlight Job’s personal relationship performer. He writes in a wide range of idioms from with God, and creates an intimacy with the audience, contemporary classical through jazz and popular as well as a very rare opportunity for the Alto music, and has written for such artists as Cantillation, section to act as soloists!! Exposing the altos not Moorambilla Voices, Metropolitan Orchestra, only gives a feminine flavour to this movement, but Occidental Strings, Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, also a sense of inner strength - and their warmth Three’s Company Opera, the SOQ, of choral colour lends an air of certainty and lustre Orchestra, Don Burrows and James Morrison. He These are the thoughts I’ve tried to to the movement which is simply impossible in its is currently taking a Master of Music degree at the put into my music. How beautiful are original setting. Lengthening and simplifying the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying with Paul they who love begins in that place strings accompaniment allows for a meditative, Stanhope. of dark sorrow and despair. The prayerful quality, leaving space to explore the power vocal line is adrift, at first floating on of dynamics - and allows for the clarity of the vocal When setting out to write my part for this wonderful top of the strings, then sinking beneath lines stunning melodic contour to be framed - and venture, I reflected on what The Messiah means to them. The strings themselves seem aimless “reimagined” in this rendition. us, and how we all draw from it in different ways. and provide little feeling of foundation or direction. For me it is a paean of hope. I think about how easy Only when love enters does it begin to feel strong Composer Anastasia Pahos focuses on the element it is, when seeing the magnitude of suffering and and grounded, and becomes a hymn praising those of sacredness in her music, particularly drawing sorrow in the world, to fall into a deep sadness, where who give their love when people are in need. The from Eastern Orthodoxy. An Honours graduate from hope of peace and goodness seems impossible to second piece is a shadow of the Hallelujah Chorus, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Pahos has find. In such moments a simple act of kindness and containing many nods to, and borrowings from, received several commissions, as well as a ‘New love can relieve the sorrow and rejuvenate the soul, Handel’s original. It is an exclamation of joy, rejoicing Work’ grant from The Australia Council for the Arts bringing light and hope. For Handel and Jennens, in the wonder of a Kingdom of Love — love is love, (2014). Within the last few years, she has worked this hope was to be found in the belief that God’s and love is all. And if we can act with love and with The Consort of (2018), The Song Kingdom, and our salvation, will one day come. That compassion always — as individuals, as a community, Company (2016), The Commonwealth Resounds salvation, however, can seem abstract and a long as a nation, as a world — then Hallelujah! and The Royal Over-seas League (Malta 2015), The way away. But take God as a metaphor for Love, and Limelight Australian Composition Seminar (2015), consider that the central message is one of kindness The Chamber Choir of The Academy of Arts (Serbia and compassion that stems from an ever-present, Hallelujah Chorus 2015), The Melbourne Metropolitan Sinfonietta overarching love. In this sense, a “kingdom of god” (2014), The Sydney Contemporary Orchestra (2014), Hallelujah, sing hallelujah! need not be so far remote from our present world—a and The Leichhardt Espresso Chorus (2014). kingdom where love is the guiding principle, where Love will reign for ever more suffering is met with sympathy and compassion, For love is love, and love is all where greed and selfishness are replaced by Bring peace and joy to all the world generosity and humility. This would be a beautiful Hallelujah! world to live in. And achieving it is entirely within our own power—our own responsibility.

16 17 The biblical text still seems poignant today, even in an increasingly secular society. For me, it boils down to The Trumpet Shall Sound this; we all contribute to humanity’s self-destruction, Music by James Madsen and only we can save ourselves. On the other hand, should we even bother? Michelle’s brief initially seemed quite simple; take the movement from Handel’s Messiah called the trumpet shall sound and create your own version. “Make it your own style”, she suggested. “Oh and there’s no trumpet… ‘It’s a near miracle that nuclear war has so far been just saxophones.” So the famous words from the gospels have changed to “the saxes shall sound”. No problem avoided’ Noam Chomsky there. God almighty won’t mind too much. Trumpet/saxophone. Both are shiny. But as a composer I rarely think about my own style. Composing this ‘reimagined’ work I realised that I do have a sense of my ‘own’ style these ‘Besides, there is nothing wrong with the planet. days and draw upon certain stylistic characteristics. I wanted to keep Handel’s melody the same as a tribute Nothing wrong with the planet. The planet is fine. The to such beautiful phrasing and shape for the men’s chorus, and there is just one melodic note slightly different, people are f****d.’ George Carlin with some added harmony towards the end. The harmony, however, supporting his melody draws upon my style of chords, sometimes built on open fifths or using extended open chords. Another preferred rhythmic technique I use is to incorporate time signatures that allow for changing groupings within the beat, in twos and threes, Since by Man came death, the power, and the ability, using the pulsing rhythmic feel of 8/8. And for the listeners I always hope they enjoy the sounds they hear, from to descend us into madness the lush harmonies, the lively rhythms as well as the lyrical flow of Handel’s classic melody brought into the By Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead; the future with a slight modern twist. wherewithal, the strength of mind, to stand and not give up the fight. James Madsen is an Australian music educator, composer and performer. He studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music graduating For as in Adam all die with an Honours Degree in Music Education, Since by man-made death Since By Man Came studying piano under Stephanie McCallum. The mounting responsibility will Death He has taught music in a number of schools descend us into madness in Sydney and London and presents creative Music by Ben Burton music workshops. With his background in Even so in Christ shall all be made alive music education combined with a passion The wonderful thing about music is that the slightest We are the love, we are the peace, we are the love, for composing he aims to create music change of rhythm, accent, harmony, or phrasing, We are belief. and educational resources that promote can transport the listener hundreds of years through creative thinking. James began his interest in time. And so, I’ve kept Handel’s essential structure, Moorambilla.com composition when he was a child, writing his and his motivic material, while changing things up first pieces for piano and recording his first enough to bring the piece firmly into the 21st century. cassette of original music by the age of 16. I’ve used Jennens’ text, and added some of my own Over the years he has continued his composition words around it. In keeping with a long tradition of work, with lyrical melodies, lush harmonies and respectfully re-organising Handel’s masterwork, I have dynamic rhythms, producing a range of musical absolutely no intention of improvement. styles from contemporary classical, to pop Handel seems to have been largely concerned with music, as well as his hugely popular songs for opera, and as such, had a flair for the dramatic - his children from his Jam On Toast project. James ability to turn emotion so quickly from deep sorrow self-publishes his scores of music, including to pure joy is something I greatly admire. I’ve tried to works for choirs, chamber ensembles and keep that aspect of this movement, while mixing in a solo repertoire, and is available to compose good dose of Aussie humour. commissioned works for special events. Visit www.JamesMadsen.com.au for more. Jamesmadsen.com

18 19 Messiah Reimagined Chamber Orchestra

Concertmaster:Zoe Black

Before The Throne Violins: Adrian Bendt, Ben Adler, Julia Russoniello Viola: Nicole Forsyth, Christina Burjan Music by Gerard Brophy Cello: Minah Choe, Suzannah Keene On a sparkling morning earlier this year, Jill Double Bass: Kirsty Mc Cahon and I found ourselves in New Jolfa, the Armenian quarter in Isfahan. I had long wanted to visit this area for two reasons. Firstly, it was an outpost of Armenian culture in an ostensibly hostile environment, (I was Piano: Ben Burton wrong about that as since the time of Shah Abbas, Armenians have enjoyed a privileged Percussion: Josh Hill status in Iran) and secondly it was the ancestral home of my dear friend Violet Smith of Calcutta. In fact, not long after the Armenian exodus from Turkey in 1915, Violet’s grandmother had walked from Isfahan to Dhaka, in what is now Bangladesh, carrying CONTINUUM SAX: her mother on her back for most of the way. Christina Leonard (soprano saxophone), The glittering centerpiece of New Jolfa is the monumental Holy Saviour Cathedral James Nightingale (alto saxophone), complex. The interior of the cathedral is simply breathtaking and is a gorgeous riot Martin Kay (tenor saxophone), of finely wrought floral motifs, sumptuous frescoes and gilt carvings surrounded by a wainscot of Persian tile-work. Adjoining this is a genocide museum, a sober testament to Nick Russoniello (baritone saxophone) its victims that provokes a roller-coaster ride of conflicting emotions.

Clustered around the church, one finds a number of tombstones set into the marble flagstones. I usually make a beeline for these cemeteries in the hope of finding relatives of my Armenian friends. On this occasion I didn’t find any, though one tombstone did catch my eye. It was the grave of an infant of tender age. The innocence of this brief life seemed to be perfectly encapsulated in the poignant inscription on her tombstone and I wanted to incorporate these tender words into the piece that you will hear this evening.

Before the throne, Washed and made white, By the blood of the Lamb

Before the throne was commissioned by the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus and is dedicated with much love and affection to Rene and Mick Leonard.

Gerard Brophy is a composer of instrumental, choral, orchestral and electronic music and music for ballet and dance. His current project is an extended work for Ensemble Lunaire. jerardbrophy.com.au

20 21 Australian works commissioned by LEC Leichhardt Espresso Chorus Our Commissioning Fund is extremely grateful for support and donations We hope you enjoyed the new Australian world 2018 1 December: Anastasia Pahos - A 2007 from organisations, individuals and the composers premieres you heard in this concert today. The 10 June: Various Messiah Reimagined Byzantine Carol 5 April: Dan Walker - Weep No More themselves, that have made it possible to commission Leichhardt Espresso Chorus is proud of its extensive Alice Chance - Prayer for Harmony (David Childs) Australian composers for this concert. Massive thank program of commissioning Australian compositions over 2017 25 Aug: Christopher Gordon - You 30 April: Dan Walker - Waiting for the 2012 Dead Kings Rising, Marco Creazzo you to The Inner West Council for their support as part of the past 20 years, made possible only by donations Night (Depeche Mode), I Feel Loved 23 June: David Basden - An Die - Beyond the ...Sea, Meredith Hope - their annual Cultural Fund. And also a massive thank you and fundraising efforts of the choristers. If you would (Depeche Mode), Staralfur (Sigur Musik, Eternity, Stand Up and Look Deep Waters Rising to our individual donors Trish Pearce, Crista Wocaldo, like to commission a work for the choir, or donate to Ros). Ella Macens - Look Up The Sky At Me 16 December: Billie McCarthy - Debby Cramer, Suzanne Blythin and Tim Smyth. our commissioning fund, your contribution will be tax is Glowing Dan Walker - Were All the Stars to Almost Christmas Day deductible. We appreciate every contribution no matter 1 October: Alice Chance Fiat Lux - the Disappear and Die, Reckless (David how large or small! Please don’t hesitate to contact Light Cycle (8 movements) Reyne), Fields of Gold (Sting) 2006 Michelle Leonard, [email protected] to Sally Whitwell - Breath of Kindness 17 December: Billie McCarthy - 17 December: Dan Walker - Hallelujah discuss your contribution, or donate on our website on Billie’s Song Marco Creazzo - The First (Cohen), Kevin Barker - I Carry 21 September: Ben Van Tienan - How www.espressochorus.com.au Christmas Your Heart, Ruth McCall - Summer Can I Keep from Singing? Christmas Fiona Loader - Pie Jesu 23 December: Alice Chance - Three 2005 Lullaby Kings, Christmas Harmony 17 Sepember: Dan Walker - Coutts Crossing Michelle Leonard - Across 2016 2011 the Plains * (Arr: Marco Creazzo) - 23 October: Andrew Howes - Callan 26 June: Dan Walker - Lines in the Bellambi (Matthew Doyle) - Drought/ History of the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus Park Suite (5 movements) Sand (3 movements) David Basden - Paint Up (Matthew Doyle) - Michelle Kezia Yap - Green Mosaic How Many Miles to Babylon Leichhardt Espresso Chorus is a community choir LEC has commissioned new Australian Christmas Leonard & Marco Creazzo - Sailing in of over 80 singers and is 20 years strong in 2018. carols for the past 14 years for the annual Carols on 18 December: Paul Stanhope - 18 December: Billy McCarthy - Carols the boat (Trad.) - Din Din Din (Trad.) Founded in 1998 by Artistic Director Michelle Leonard Norton outdoor concert it co-produces with the Inner People Look East on Norton 10th Anniversary Blues Paul Jarman - Ride the Spirit Christina Leonard - O Come All Ye OAM, the Chorus includes a chamber choir, Ristretto, West Council featuring prominent Sydney orchestral 23 September: Paul Jarman - 2015 Faithful (Trad) Luke Byrne - O Come, the Inner West Childrens Choir (babycinos) and is musicians. The choir was acknowledged as a major Narrabri 28 June: Dan Walker - Last Verses O Come, Emmanuel (Trad) - Hark the currently accompanied by pianist Benjamin Burton. arts partner in the former Leichhardt Council’s (5 movements) Herald Angels Sing (Trad) - Six White The LEC is non-auditioned and invites all singers to Strategic Arts Policy. 2004 Owen Elsley - On Love (4 movements) Boomers (Rolf Harris) join each year. 4 July: Marco Creazzo - Ave Maria 20 December: Andrew Howes 12 Sept Joe Accario - Volo del Palazzo Major choral works performed include four Handel 2010 - Christmastide Pavane James Marco Creazzo - Ride On (Christy Under Michelle Leonard, the hallmark of the choir oratorios: Messiah in 2008 and again in 2012, Israel 27 March: Luke Byrne - Such Country Madsen - Sotto la Stella Fiona Loader Moore) has been an active and extensive annual program of in Egypt in 2015, Saul in 2016, Solomon in 2017, Suite (5 movements) - Christmas in Sydney William Yaxley - commissions, partnerships and collaborations with Carmina Burana at Carriageworks, Vivaldi’s Gloria in David Basden - The Birds. Andrew There is no Rose 2003 composers, ensembles and musicians. The Chorus 2014 at Hunter Baillie Memorial Church. Schultz - Simplify, Simplify Gerard 14 September: Christina has commissioned, co-commissioned and performed 2014 Brophy - Moorambilla Dawn David Mimmochi - Silence is the Rock world premieres and arrangements of nearly 200 The Chorus welcomes collaborations with artists 22 March: Alice Chance - Basden - Processional Ave Maria 27 September: Dan Walker - choral works since 1998. Recent commissions and communities and was the choir in residence Coalescence 2009 Freshwater suite (4 movements) include the world premiere of Andrew Howes Callan from 2005-2015 for the Moorambilla Voices Gala 14 June: Sally Whitwell - This Paradise 2 March: Luke Byrne - Immortal 21 December: Marco Creazzo - Away Park in 2016 with The Song Company which was Concerts and Festival, appearing in two movies about Now Suite (6 movements) Anastasia Beloved Sally Whitwell - She Walks in in a Manger - Carol of the Drum - also performed at Classics at Callan Park. The choir Moorambilla Voices: Outback Choir and Wide Open Pahos - The Sseucle (3 movements) Beauty, The Song of the Wandering Christmas Day - Ding Dong Merrily Alice Chance - Conjured Characters performed the world premiere of Fiat Lux by Alice Sky. It appeared in the Sydney Festival at Sydney Aengus on High - Gabriel’s Message - God Tom Knapp - Food for Thought Chance with The Song Company at St James Church Opera House with Lost and Found Company in 5 July Luke Byrne - Salmos de Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Good King in 2017. STOMP in 2007, and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 12 October: Dan Walker - Mass of Wenceslas - Huon Christmas Carol Santiago in Sydney in 2010, with Song Company and William Deliverance (5 movements) - Mary’s Boy Child + Noel Nouvelet 26 September: Luke Byrne - Back in The Chorus congratulated its Artistic Director for the Barton for Massive in 2015, with the Willoughby 21 December: Andrew Howes - Silent - Once in Royal David’s City - Silent My Day Order of Australia Medal for services to performing Symphony Chorus in 2017 for Christmas Carols. Night, Glassy Night Night - Star Carol- The Silver Stars Elena Kats-Chernin - Baiaime’s Owen Elsely - That’s Why I Really Like We Three Kings of Orient Are arts and music in 2017, was nominated in the APRA/ The LEC’s chamber choir, Ristretto, is made up of Ngunnhu suite (6 movements) Christmas AMCOS Art Music Awards in 2015 for its commission invited singers, and performs regularly for the City 20 December: Dan Walker - What Can 2002 and performance with Sydney Brass of Dan Walker’s of Sydney at Christmas, in 2013 performed Howls 2013 You See? 15 Sept Paul Jarman - Outback suite Mass of Deliverance, was the NSW runner up at the of the House with Song Company in Canberra and 14 April: Gerard Brophy - Magnificat (5 movements) 2006 ABC Choir of the Year Competition, and the Sydney under Roland Peelman, performed in 2016 at Suite (3 movements) 2008 inaugural winner of the Music Council of Australia the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra as part 5 April: Dan Walker - Seven Deadly 29 June Alice Chance - Aesop’s Fables National Music in Communities Award. of Heather Swann’s Nervous project, Rossini’s Petite Sins suite (7 movements) Suite (5 movements) - David Basden Grand Total to date well over 200! Messe Solonelle in 2016, and in 2017 Dark Night of - Rococco Preludes: Have more than 21 December: Billy McCarthy I - Love the Soul in Melbourne and Sydney with Melbourne- thou Showest Times Glory Fortune’s Christmas based Choristry under Artistic Director Dan Walker. Goodnight To See A World Sally Whitwell - Lute Book Lullaby, Tom Knapp - Lonesome George Hodie Christus Natus Est.

22 23 TO JOIN TO DONATE TO FIND OUT MORE espressochorus.com.au upcoming concert CORONATION INTERRUPTED Sunday 22nd July Hunter Baillie Johnson Street Annandale 24