The third of three settings of text from the Odes of Solomon. The Odes of Solomon are believed to have been written around the year 100 A.D., and include strong parallels to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Scholars have debated whether the Odes should be consid...  moreThe third of three settings of text from the Odes of Solomon. The Odes of Solomon are believed to have been written around the year 100 A.D., and include strong parallels to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Scholars have debated whether the Odes should be considered Jewish, Christian or Gnostic, and whether they were first written in Greek, Hebrew or Syriac. Early Christian writings refer to and quote from them. A Syriac manuscript containing the text of most of the Odes was discovered in 1909 by the English scholar J. Rendel Harris, and other partial texts in various languages have also been found. There are 42 Odes. Some fragments are still missing from Odes I and III, and no part of Ode II has yet been found. For these choral settings, I selected text from four of the Odes of Solomon which I found particularly compelling. The anonymous translation I have used comes from The Gnostic Society Library.  less

Song of the two snails who go to the funeral of a Dead leaf. Poem by Jacques Prévert. Music composed for two unaccompanied altos (countertenors) and sung by David W Solomons (one of My first multitrack recordings back in the early 1980s).

Introduction by Martin How, followed by Blest Pair of Sirens by C H H Parry Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav'n's joy, Sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse, Wed your divine sounds, and mixed pow'r employ, Dead things with inbreathed ...  moreIntroduction by Martin How, followed by Blest Pair of Sirens by C H H Parry Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav'n's joy, Sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse, Wed your divine sounds, and mixed pow'r employ, Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce; And to our high-raised phantasy present That undisturbed song of pure content, Aye sung before the sapphire-coloured throne To Him that sits thereon, With saintly shout, and solemn jubilee, Where the bright Seraphim in burning row Their loud uplifted angel-trumpets blow, And the Cherubic host in thousand quires Touch their immortal harps of golden wires, With those just Spirits that wear victorious palms, Hymns devout and holy psalms Singing everlastingly: That we on earth with undiscording voice May rightly answer that melodious noise; As once we did, till disproportioned sin Jarred against nature's chime, and with harsh din ..........  less

A setting of a poem by Nicholas Vachel Lindsay (obit 1931). Though Magi Kings are Dead, My star will still lead me to the place where I can kiss the Infant's haloed head. The setting by Irish composer David Monks, iis sung by Alzonne Choir. The perfor...  moreA setting of a poem by Nicholas Vachel Lindsay (obit 1931). Though Magi Kings are Dead, My star will still lead me to the place where I can kiss the Infant's haloed head. The setting by Irish composer David Monks, iis sung by Alzonne Choir. The performance was given in the Collegiale St. Michel, Castelnaudary, 9 December 2011. Your comments are welcomel. Un arrangement d'un poème de Nicolas Vachel Lindsay (obit 1931). Bien que les rois mages soient morts, mon étoile va encore me conduire à l'endroit où je peux embrasser la tête auréolée de l'Enfant. L'arrangement par David Monks, compositeur irlandais, est chanté par le Choeur d'Alzonne. La représentation a été donnée dans la Collégiale Saint-Michel, Castelnaudary, 9 Décembre 2011. Vos commentaires sont bienvenusl.  less