The desert shall rejoice - SSATTBB and violin, for Advent
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 326
    Very much inspired by Vaughan Williams.

    A few things here and there might change, but here it is mostly done.

    Recorded with violin, viola, and MIDI. It was actually composed for my church's lessons and carols.

    Thanks Andrew Malton for providing me with the Anglican Breviary translation of Germinaverunt campi which I used here from my query: https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/comment/235173#Comment_235173

    The 3rd Responsory of the (Ember} Friday of the third week of Advent: [The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose:] it shall blossom abundantly with the Flower that is the sweetness of Israel, for behold the Lord God will come with strong hand, And his reward is with him. V. Out of Zion hath God appeared in perfect beauty.
    The desert shall rejoice.pdf
    136K
    2021-12-15 The desert shall rejoice violin.mp3
    5M
    Thanked by 8CHGiffen Heath Andrew_Malton sdtalley3 Drake Anna_Bendiksen M. Jackson Osborn achoyce91
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 326
    As a taste of what it actually sounds like, here's a snippet of the violin with choir. Not enough of the piece was on point for me to post the whole recording, but hopefully you get some sort of idea.
    The desert shall rejoice excerpt 1.mp3
    787K
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen Andrew_Malton M. Jackson Osborn
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    There is a beauty to this that is impossible to describe - it's heavenly.
    Thanked by 2m_r_taylor Anna_Bendiksen
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,798
    I take it the viola is written on the same staff as the violin in the opening. One should not be put off a fine piece by apparently fiendish double stops, nor waste too much time trying to guess at a feasible scordatura!
    Thanked by 1m_r_taylor
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 326
    Thank you @CHGiffen! And thanks also for always leaving some kind of feedback on new work - it's quite encouraging.

    @Richard Mix, very much playable (and is being played) on just a violin in normal tuning! Just requires some third position double stops and one instance of left-hand pizz. I would say the hardest part is nailing the tuning on those fifths in m. 32. I, er, don't quite nail them in this recording!
    Thanked by 3Richard Mix CHGiffen Anna_Bendiksen
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,798
    Blame my cello-goggles then ;-)
    Thanked by 1m_r_taylor
  • Marek66Marek66
    Posts: 161
    very nice written, by the way, I recommend Lutoslawski's symphonic pieces
    Thanked by 1m_r_taylor
  • davido
    Posts: 942
    Very nice, congratulations
    Thanked by 1m_r_taylor
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    Shades of RVW indeed!!
    I hope our British friends are tuning in here.
    Such poetry is rarely heard this side of the pond - especially from a Catholic pen.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen m_r_taylor
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 326
    Last year it received a performance in a lovely acoustic, attached here.
    The desert shall rejoice - Lchoir.mp3
    6M
    Thanked by 4CHGiffen achoyce91 M. Jackson Osborn GerardH
  • achoyce91
    Posts: 173
    Oh beautiful!!!!! Great performance!! Have you ever had anything published or have you sold anything you've written?
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 326
    Thank you! No, not at this time. I haven't written enough, I think, nor have I "shopped" existing music to publishers.
    Thanked by 1achoyce91
  • achoyce91
    Posts: 173
    Man you could do it. You're the best composer I've met on here. I just have to say it.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    ...just have to say it
    I heartily second the publishing suggestion - and I'm thinking Oxford or such! Send them your work.
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