PANUFNIK
Floral Tribute
for Double Choir and Optional String Quartet
ISUU Version
For perusal only
ISUU Version For perusal only
ROXANNA PANUFNIK
Floral Tribute
for Double Choir and Optional String Quartet
EDITION PETERS
LEIP ZI G · L ONDO N · NE W YOR K
ISUU Version For perusal only
FLORAL TRIBUTE
Evening will come, however determined the late afternoon, Limes and oaks in their last green flush, pearled in September mist. I have conjured a lily to light these hours, a token of thanks, Zones and auras of soft glare framing the brilliant globes. A promise made and kept for life – that was your gift –Because of which, here is a gift in return, glovewort to some, Each shining bonnet guarded by stern lance-like leaves. The country loaded its whole self into your slender hands, Hands that can rest, now, relieved of a century’s weight.
Evening has come. Rain on the black lochs and dark Munros. Lily of the Valley, a namesake almost, a favourite flower Interlaced with your famous bouquets, the restrained Zeal and forceful grace of its lanterns, each inflorescence A silent bell disguising a singular voice. A blurred new day Breaks uncrowned on remote peaks and public parks, and Everything turns on these luminous petals and deep roots, This lily that thrives between spire and tree, whose brightness Holds and glows beyond the life and border of its bloom.
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage marks the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with a new poem. 13th September, 2022
When VOCES8 approached me to set this beautiful poem, which Poet Laureate Simon Armitage wrote after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, I was immediately struck by the warmth and gentleness of his words – to me it conjured up a bittersweet lullaby. Bittersweet as it mourns the passing of our wonderful Queen but also celebrates her finest qualities of steadfastness and devotion to her people. A lullaby because it’s like we’re saying goodnight to Her Majesty - this is portrayed by gentle rocking harmonies, accompanying Her Majesty to her final rest.
One of the most important things about Floral Tribute is that the two verses are acrostic – each one’s first letter of the first line spells E-L-I-Z-A-B-E-T-H. I’ve made much of this by having one singer at a time (this changes every line) singing the whole line whilst the other seven accompany using that letter or first syllable.
The poem ends very positively as the memory of Her Majesty – ‘This lily… whose brightness Holds and glows beyond the life and border of its bloom’ – will live on.
Floral Tribute is a co-commission with the BBC Proms and VOCES8 and is dedicated to VOCES8 and the memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Roxanna Panufnik, 24 May 2023
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and VOCES8 Foundation and first performed by VOCES8 and the Carducci String Quartet on 9 August 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall, London, as part of the BBC Proms 2023
ISUU Version
-noon, Limes, p limes, last, flush, mp
ISUU Version For perusal only
af ter - noon, - Limes, limes, last, flush, mp
af ter - noon, - Limes, limes, last, flush, mp af ter - noon, - Limes, limes, last, flush, mp
af ter - noon, - Limes mp andoaks, Limesandoaks intheirlastgreen flush, mf pearled
af ter - noon, - Limes, limes, last, flush, mp af ter - noon, - Limes, limes, last, flush, mp
ter - noon, - Limes, limes, last, flush, mp mp
pearled,...tem mf -bermist.
ISUU Version For perusal only
light,
pearled mist.
pearled mist.
pearled mist.
pearled
pearled
pearled
ISUU Version
-ly, light thesehours, - Zones, mp zones, glare Z
For perusal only
-ly, lightthesehours, - Zones f andau-ras ofsoftglare fram-ingthebrilliant-ly. lightthesehours, Zones, mp zones, glare -ly, lightthese hours, Zones, mp Zones, glare -ly, lightthese hours, - Zones, mp zones, glare ken - of thanks, Zones, mp zones, glare -ly, lightthesehours, Zones, mp zones, glare -ly, lightthesehours, Zones, mp zones, glare
ISUU Version
For perusal only
ISUU Version
For perusal only
ISUU Version
A mf silent - bell mp asingu - -larvoice. Ablurrednewday, alilefaster q=84
For perusal only
si-lentbell dis mf -guising - a mp singu - -larvoice. Ablurrednewday singu - -lar voice. Ablurrednewday singu - -larvoice. Ablurrednewday, si mf -lentbell, asingu - -larvoice. A Ablurrednewday
singu - -larvoice. A Ablurrednewday singu - -lar voice. A Ablurrednewday singu - -larvoice. A Ablurrednewday alilefaster q
Breaksuncrowned - onre-mote
For perusal only
peaks andpublic - peaksand parks, E-vr’ything... -
Breaksuncrowned - onre-mote
Breaks
Breaksuncrowned
ISUU Version
For perusal only
ISUU Version
For perusal only
tree, Holds, holds
tree, Holds, holds
tree, Holds, holds, holds mp tree, Holds, holds f and tree, Holds, holds
tree, Holds, holds,
holds tree, Holds, holds
between - spire - andtree,whosebright ness - Holdsand glows
ISUU Version For perusal only
-liza - -beth, E-liza - -beth, E -li- za-beth.
20 ISUU Version For perusal only
-liza - -beth, E-liza - -beth, E -li-za-beth.
-liza - -beth, E-liza - -beth, E -li-za-beth.
-liza - -beth, E-liza - -beth, E -li-za-beth.
-liza - -beth, E-liza - -beth, E -li-za-beth.
-liza - -beth, E-liza - -beth, E -li-za-beth.
-liza - -beth, E-liza - -beth, E -li-za-beth.
-liza - -beth, E-liza - -beth, E -li-za-beth.
ISUU Version
For perusal only
ISUU Version
For perusal only
Roxanna Panufnik
Roxanna Panufnik (b. 1968) studied composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and since then has written a wide range of works including opera, ballet, choral, orchestral and chamber compositions. Her great love of world music is evident in works such as her Four World Seasons for violinist Tasmin Little; Faithful Journey – A Mass for Poland, written for the National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Poland and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to mark the centenary of Poland’s regained independence; and Songs of Darkness, Dreams of Light for the 2018 BBC Last Night of the Proms. Panufnik’s Across the Line of Dreams for two conductors, two choirs and orchestra received its premiere in 2019 with Marin Alsop, Valentina Peleggi and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Roxanna Panufnik (*1968) studierte Komposition an der Londoner Royal Academy of Music. Ihr vielfältiges Schaffen erstreckt sich von Opern und Balletten über Chor- und Orchesterwerke bis hin zur Kammermusik. Von ihrer großen Affinität zur Weltmusik zeugen u. a. die Four World Seasons für die Geigerin Tasmin Little, das Werk Faithful Journey – A Mass for Poland, komponiert für das Nationale Symphonieorchester des Polnischen Rundfunks und das City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra zum 100. Jahrestag der Wiederherstellung der polnischen Unabhängigkeit, sowie Songs of Darkness, Dreams of Light für die BBC Last Night of the Proms 2018. Panufniks Across the Line of Dreams für zwei Dirigierende, zwei Chöre und Orchester wurde 2019 von Marin Alsop, Valentina Peleggi und dem Baltimore Symphony Orchestra uraufgeführt.
Photo © Benjamin Ealovega