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Alleluia
Setting: SATB, Optional drum, bells Length: 4 minutes Difficulty: 3 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5
being most difficult)
Description:
Set in simple, accessible harmonies and imitative
style, Alleluia uses optional bells and hand-held
percussion to celebrate spiritual joy.
Setting: SSAA, Solo Coloratura Soprano,
Trio Poet: Naomi Stephan Length: ca 5 minutes Difficulty: 4 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5
being most difficult)
Description:
We in the Western world are taught that holiness
is only the preserve of deities, and that to celebrate
our sexuality in whatever way we choose - whether
between women, between a man and a woman, or between
men should be a hush hush affair. When we pray
for the sensual in our lives, it is as valid a
wish as the desire for peace. But not everyone
feels this way - especially in Muslim countries.
Female genitalia, specifically the vagina, still
are the great mystery. Furthermore, the clitoris,
the area of greatest sensuality in women, is regularly,
brutally, and systematically cut from young girls
in Africa and other countries. (About 100 million
women have experienced a clitoridectomy.) After
this horrible act, females are unable to experience
any sexual feeling at all.
Too much violence has occurred under the guise
of shame about our genitalia. This piece is as
joyful in expression of our sensuous selves, as
we are in praising our spiritual sources. Holiness
is not the purview of Palestrina and God/Goddess
alone. Ave Pudendum celebrates our need for a
healthy, active sexual life if we so choose, without
interference from others. Ave Pudendum also celebrates
the power of female sexuality to transform our
lives. Dona nobis voluptatem!
Text:
Ave pudendum
O magnum mysterium
In clitoride altimissima
Cum linguis manibusque
Chorus dildonum
Te salutat
Dona nobis voluptatem,
Nunc et semper, amen.
Translation:
Hail genitalia
O great mystery
In the highest clitoris
With tongues and hands
A chorus of dildos
Salutes (greets) you
Give us voluptuousness,
Now and forever, amen.
Text:
DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill
me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must
flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate
men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou
then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt
die.
Setting: SSSAA, SSATB Poet: Hildegard von Bingen Length: 7 minutes Difficulty: 5 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5
being most difficult)
Description:
Hodie depicts the (musical) battle between woman
and the serpent. The battle is resolved in a lively
section at the end with vigorous rhythmic play
between sections. Demanding musically, Hodie explores
lower ranges of the Bass (or Alto II) and the
high range of Sopranos. Contains fugal and imitative
music, and is neo-medieval in style.
Text:
Hodie aperuit nobis
clausa port
quod serpens in muliere
suffocavit,
unde lucit in aurora flos
de Virgine Maria.
Translation:
Today a closed portal
has opened to us the door
(which) the serpent slammed
on a woman
the flower of the maiden
Mary gleams in the dawn.
Setting: SSAA + Vib. and Mba Poet: Hildegard of Bingen Length: 8 minutes Difficulty: 3 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5
being most difficult)
Description:
Set in three movements, Ideo uses the beauty of
high and low female voices to dramatize the beauty
of the female form. Set with an unusual combination
of marimba and vibraphone. Occasional passages
with split parts for richer harmonies. Ideo is
taken from a larger poem of Hildegard of Bingen
(1098-1179), "On the Blessed Mary: Antiphon"
I relate to the boldness of Hildegard's vision,
her view of women, and her glorification of the
Virgin Mary who here, embodies that which all
women strive to be. The chorus should have a strong
Alto II section.
Text:
1.ideo est summa benedictio
2.in feminea forma
3.prae omni creatura
Translation:
1. thus the highest blessing
2. is found in female form,
3. rather than in any other creature
Setting: SSAA, Obligato Soprano or Oboe Poet: Friedrich Rückert Length: 5+ minutes Difficulty: 4 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5
being most difficult) Description: Arr. of a song by Clara Schumann
Text:
Liebst du um Schönheit, o nicht mich liebe!
Liebe die Sonne, sie trägt ein goldnes Haar!
Liebst du um Jugend, o nicht mich liebe!
Liebe den Frühling, der jung ist jedes Jahr!
Liebst du um Schätze, o nicht mich liebe!
Liebe die Meerfrau, sie hat viel Perlen klar!
Liebst du um Liebe, o ja mich liebe!
Dich lieb' ich immer dar!
Translation:
If you love for beauty, oh, do not love me!
Love the sun, she has golden hair!
If you love for youth, oh, do not love me!
Love the spring, it is young every year!
If you love for treasure, oh, do not love me!
Love the mermaid, she has many clear pearls!
If you love for love, oh yes, do love me!
Love me ever, I’ll love you evermore!
Setting: SSAA Poet: Sue Carroll Moore Length: 3-4min Difficulty: 3 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5
being most difficult)
Description:
Set accessibly for four part women's voices, Our
Promised Land in hauntingly imitative and intense
rhythms, explores the poet's commentary on her
poem: "Our Promised Land" Like the Wandering
Jew, we often feel set apart, search over hill
and dale for home and safety, a land which while
not geographically located, we nevertheless find
in community--safety, acceptance, tranquility,
security. In the words of Steven Sondheim, "There's
a place for us, a time and place for us. . ."
Text:
I love you well
As well as myself
But the well of loneliness is deep
and I have promises to keep.
My right hand is my free hand
And my left hand is my holding hand
I can't keep you with my holding hand
I have to keep myself.
But if you follow my right hand
My hand which is my free hand
I will show you to
Our promised land.
Listen to Clip: Spring Song
(Real Audio Format)
Performed by I Cantori
Setting: SSA Poet: Sue Carroll Moore Length: 6:45 Difficulty: 4 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5
being most difficult)
Description:
Spring Song is one of Naomi's most popular pieces,
it has been recorded several different times on
CD's and a Cassette. Beautiful, lyrical and dissonant
exploration of the emotions and sounds of spring
and sadness which turns into hope at the end.
Text:
Green wind
green clouds
green thunder
the green bandages of spring
are wrapped around
my old black wounds
and I am tender inside.
Nothing is forever
forever is the shape of nothing
nothing is the shape of forever
no nothing is forever
not even love
not even me
not even the sea
the milky fluorescent sea
mother of sands
mother of pearl
mother of me
who takes one away
but gives back another
no nothing's forever
not even the warm luminous sea
rain swollen and rolling under
green wind green clouds green thunder
