My collaboration with the brilliant Garth Bardsley, Laude!, is the feature for the very first Encore Stream by The Crane School of Music, on Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 7:30PM.
Garth and I will be available via Zoom for an an interactive discussion of the piece at the conclusion of this re-broadcast. (Stay tuned for more details about that!)
Here is the link for more information about the stream: https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/crane-school-music/crane-school-music-live-concert
Laude! was premiered by The Crane Chorus and Orchestra, Jeffrey Francom, conductor and Shannon Stoddard (SUNY Potsdam, 2019), soprano, on December 4, 2016 at Helen M. Hosmer Hall, The Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY.
This Encore Stream is from that performance, which has also been distributed for seasonal broadcast on PBS affiliate stations over the past few years.
Crane’s Encore Stream was created to fill the void of live performances at The Crane School of Music during its temporary closing during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Laude! celebrates Peace and Hope during a time of emptiness and despair. While it was specifically composed for the winter Holiday season during a time of social and political tensions around the world, the message of Laude! seems most appropriate during this difficult time.
The work borrows melodies and words from the 13th century Italian Codex Laudario di Cortona with the addition of contemporary words by Garth Bardsley.
Laude! has three movements:
- Gloria’n cielo
- Sovrana sì ne sembianti
- Stella Nuova
Laude! was premiered by The Crane Chorus and Orchestra, Jeffrey Francom, conductor and Shannon Stoddard (SUNY Potsdam, 2019), soprano, on December 4, 2016 at Helen M. Hosmer Hall, The Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY.
Here are Garth’s words:
I. Gloria’n cielo
Gloria ‘n cielo e pace ‘n terra: nat’è ‘l nostro salvatore!
(Glory in heaven and peace on earth, Our Saviour is born!)
Pace ‘n terra sia cantata, gloria ‘n ciel desiderata; la donçella consecrata parturit’à ‘l Salvatore!
(Let peace be sung on earth and glory in heaven. The consecrated Virgin has brought forth a savior!)
Such blessings from heav’n pour down upon earth,
That peace may reign through this mortal birth
As light conquers darkness with each precious dawn
So the birth of a child brings new hope reborn
Gloria ‘n cielo e pace ‘n terra: nat’è ‘l nostro salvatore!
Parturito l’à cum canto, pieno de lo Spiritu santo: de li bracia li fe’ manto cum grandissimo fervore.
(She gave him birth with a song, full of the Holy Spirit: In her arms she mantled him with the greatest fervor.)
Gloria ‘n cielo e pace ‘n terra: nat’è ‘l nostro salvatore!
Poi la madre gloriosa, stella clara e luminosa, l’alto sol, desiderosa, lactava cum gran dolçore.
(Then the glorious Mother, the clear luminous star, nursed her son with great tenderness.)
The innocence of children allows us to see
How we might live in sweet harmony
As out of the earth springs water so pure
So the birth of a child brings love to endure
Gloria ‘n cielo e pace ‘n terra: nat’è ‘l nostro salvatore!
Then look to the child for there you will find
An infinite love to heal all mankind
Gloria ‘n cielo e pace ‘n terra: nat’è ‘l nostro salvatore!
II. Sovrana sì ne’ sembianti
Sovrana sì ne’ sembianti thesor pien di pietança.
(A sovereign she appears, a treasure full of mercy)
Beneath my feet, the sun-scorched earth,
Liquescent in the heavy haze,
Lay still.
The empty land, so cracked, so parched,
Denied all hope that Hope may still
Be born.
Such sorrow seized my heart and filled
My eyes with tears which fell upon
The earth
And slaked its thirst that, underneath
The sterile dust, new life began
To stir.
Emerging from this nothingness
A bud began to coil towards
The light
And where there once was nought, now stands
A beautiful rose – immanent –
Divine
For thus amidst the barren ground
The beautiful and good may still be found
Sovrana sì ne’ sembianti thesor pien di pietança.
III. Stella Nuova
Stella nuova ‘n fra la gente (O New Star among mankind)
k’aparuisti novamente! (You appeared once again!)
Stella k’aparuisti al mundo (Star, you appeared to the world)
quando nacque ‘l re iocondo, (when the joyful king, who was born)
stett’en mezzo a tutto ‘l mondo (came into the midst of all the world)
per aluminar la gente. (to enlighten all people.)
Stella nuova ‘n fra la gente
k’aparuisti novamente!
Look to the sky, for there in the distance
Light, unimagined, steals through the night.
Piercing the gloom, its flame everlasting
Hails new beginnings, our hearts to delight.
Stella nuova ‘n fra la gente
k’aparuisti novamente!
Peace, hope and joy will lighten our journey
Precious and pure, these gifts lie within
Look to your heart where heav’n’s light is shining
Then may the world see a new day begin.
Stella nuova ‘n fra la gente
k’aparuisti novamente!
Stella k’aparuisti al mundo
quando nacque ‘l re iocondo,
stett’en mezzo a tutto ‘l mondo
per aluminar la gente.
Gaze upon your heart and see
The truth therein will set you free
Stella nuova ‘n fra la gente
k’aparuisti novamente!
