Music-Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30

requirements1 xConcertreport1 x101917EveningofChoirsprogramKRHFINAL

All requirements are attached

Objective Description of the Music (FACTS) – (20 pts. – 10 pts per selection)

Choose two pieces or movements from the concert to discuss. For each of the selections,
describe the Harmony and Timbre about each It is not enough to write, “This piece had rhythm,” or “This selection has harmony.” You must describe the Timbre or harmony in detail.

Subjective Reaction to the Music (FEELINGS) – (20 pts. – 10 pts per selection)

For each of the two selections, describe your emotional reactions. How did the music make you feel? What emotions did it evoke? Why did you react the way that you did? Was it in the composition or the performance or both? Did your mind wander while listening? What held your attention? Was the concert full of variety or was it all more or less the same to you? Was this familiar or a new experience? How is the concert-going experience different from listening to a recording?

Conclusion – (5 pts.)

Did you like or dislike the experience overall? Why? Was the experience new to you? How was it different from what you expected? Was it like or unlike other concerts you may have attended? Were there any surprises at the concert? If possible, connect this concert experience to the history of styles studied in our class.

Hu 1

Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30

Listening to “rejoice in the lamb op. 30” has a characteristic timbre and harmony. The concert had eight sections and I chose the first two sections including “Rejoice in God, O ye Tongues” and “For I Will consider my cat Jeoffrey”.The harmony of the first piece requires one to be keen to notice. The harmony around the notes played one after the other is just on point. These notes that are played one after the other is what is called a melody and combining these with the notes that are played

 

in the background, beneath, behind and around the melody is just spectacular; this is what is called the harmony. The harmony supports the melody well in this piece. That made the piece easy to stick to the memory and keeps one humming its tune all through. Also, the harmony in this piece brought out the texture of the piece which was smooth, peaceful and relaxing. The harmony in the piece is altered from time to time changing the melody entirely.  This gives the song alternating high notes and low notes in a progressive way bringing out the smooth texture of the song. The timbre on the other hand gives a good color to this piece. It gives the piece a rhythmic, melodious and gentle color. The rhythm is mixed with. The tempo at the beginning is slow, but picks up to become moderate then slow towards the end of the first section.  It is alternating gently loud in some parts and soft in others in a progressive manner making it eerie, rounded and strong. The music begins in an excitingly soft tone, but it gradually picks up as the baritones also join in the singing. The organ has been carefully used to set the beats of the music.   

The second piece also has a distinct harmony but closer to the first one. The harmony is slow at first and launches into a fast note that supports the melody of the piece well. The piece uses instruments to bring out the theme. The timbre of the piece is slow at fast but gradually gains momentum and becomes vigorous towards the end. The tempo of this section is moderate with the sopranos and tenor choir members alternating to make it very exciting. The rhythm is regular and metered to give the song a poetic and emotional touch. The texture on the other hand is combined between crowded and spacious. At some point, you are tempted to think the performance is over but one of the soloists dramatically picks up and almost gives the audience an adrenaline rush with her performance.

I hail the music performance as one of the best that I have watched in my life. The setting was just incredible, the instrumentation most appropriate and the performers passionate about it. The organ player was particularly impressive with her timing and ability to set the key to the song. The conductor was timely in his conducting of the song. The music made my heart to race up and down with joy and satisfaction of watching such an incredible performance. At one point, I joined the audience in giving a standing ovation for the near perfect performance. The choreography was just right and perfect. It was the kind of music that soothes the mind and soul repeatedly.

I must admit that while this was not my first concert experience, it was the best experience in as far as I can remember. I paid full attention from the beginning of the performance to the end, something I consider an achievement for I like fidgeting. While I had listened to the recording before, the experiences are simply incomparable. Indeed, no amount of listening to the recording is enough to level the kind of experience I gained from the concert. It was so good that I found myself playing the music along in my heart. The performance helped me to understand the different styles of music learnt in class. Indeed, it was a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

 

-Program-

All-Collegiate Choir
Dr. Mathew Oltman, conductor

Tisa Lawrence, assistant conductor
Seung-Kyung Baek, collaborative pianist

Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30
music by Benjamin Britten

Johnathon Ross, organ
Victoria Handford, soprano soloist

Skyler Dykes, alto soloist
David Ricart, tenor soloist
Michael Jha, bass soloist

Text from Jubilate Agno by Christopher Smart

Chorus:
Rejoice in God, O ye Tongues; give the glory to the Lord, and the Lamb.

Nations, and languages, and every Creature in which is the breath of Life.
Let man and beast appear before him, and magnify his name together.

Let Nimrod, the mighty hunter, bind a Leopard to the altar and consecrate his spear to
the Lord.

Let Ishmael dedicate a Tyger, and give praise for the liberty in which the Lord has let
him at large.

Let Balaam appear with an Ass, and bless the Lord his people and his creatures for a
reward eternal.

Let Daniel come forth with a Lion, and praise God with all his might through faith in
Christ Jesus.

Let Ithamar minister with a Chamois, and bless the name of Him that cloatheth the
naked.

Let Jakim with the Satyr bless God in the dance.
Let David bless with the Bear — The beginning of victory to the Lord — to the Lord the

perfection of excellence. Hallelujah from the heart of God, and from the hand of the artist
inimitable, and from the

echo of the heavenly harp in sweetness magnifical and mighty.

Soprano solo:
For I will consider my cat Jeoffry.

For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.

For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.

For God has bless’d him in the variety of his movements.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.

For I am possessed of a cat, surpassing in beauty, from whom I take occasion to bless
Almighty God.

Alto solo:
For the Mouse is a creature of great personal valour.

For this is a true case: Cat takes female mouse; male mouse will not depart, but stands
threat’ning and daring. If you will let her go, I will engage you, as prodigious a creature

as you are.
For the Mouse is a creature of great personal valour.

For the Mouse is of an hospitable disposition.

Tenor solo:
For the flowers are great blessings.

For the flowers have their angels even the words of God’s Creation.
For the flower glorifies God and the root parries the adversary.

For there is a language of flowers.
For the flowers are peculiarly the poetry of Christ.

Chorus:
For I am under the same accusation with my Saviour, for they said, he is besides himself.
For the officers of the peace are at variance with me, and the watchman smites me with

his staff.
For Silly fellow! Silly fellow! is against me, and belongeth neither to me nor to my family.
For I am in twelve Hardships, but he that was born of a virgin shall deliver me out of all.

Bass solo and chorus:
For H is a spirit and therefore he is God.

For K is king and therefore he is God.
For L is love and therefore he is God.

For M is musick and therefore he is God.
For the instruments are by their rhimes.

For the Shawm rhimes are lawn fawn moon boon and the like.
For the harp rhimes are sing ring string and the like.

For the cymbal rhimes are bell well toll soul and the like.
For the flute rhimes are tooth youth suit mute and the like.

For the Bassoon rhimes are pass class and the like.
For the dulcimer rhimes are grace place beat heat and the like.

For the Clarinet rhimes are clean seen and the like.
For the trumpet rhimes are sound bound soar more and the like.

For the Trumpet of God is a blessed intelligence and so are all the instruments in
Heaven.

For God the Father Almighty plays upon the Harp of stupendous magnitude and melody.
For at that time malignity ceases and the devils themselves are at peace.

For this time is perceptible to man by a remarkable stillness and serenity of soul.

Chorus:
Hallelujah from the heart of God, and from the hand of the artist inimitable, and from the

echo of the heavenly harp in sweetness magnifical and mighty.