PROGRAM NOTES In his time Johann Sebastian Bach was considered an outstanding harpsichordist and organist, but now he is remembered as one of the great composers of the Baroque era. His work as a church musician was a primary motivator for the tremendous amount of musical material he created. Großer Herr is taken from part one of his 6-part Christmas Oratorio BWV 248. Originally written for the Christmas of 1734, this oratorio was intended to be performed on the six feast days of the Christmas season. Part I was intended to be performed on Christmas day, with the subsequent parts being performed on the following days. The voice interacts in dialogue with a piccolo trumpet which colors the delicate majesty of the event. Großer Herr, o starker König, Liebster Heiland, o wie wenig Achtest du der Erden Pracht! Der die ganze Welt erhält, Ihre Pracht und Zier erschaffen, Muss in harten Krippen schlafen.
Great Lord, O mighty king, dearest saviour, O how little you regard earthly splendour He who maintains the whole world and created its glory and adornment must sleep in a hard crib. (Translation by Francis Browne)
Gabriel Fauré is lauded as one of the great composers of the French melodie with more than 100 songs. His “refined and gentle” approach to music had a significant impact on modern French music. The cycle, L' HORIZON CHIMÉRIQUE was Fauré’s final composition which he penned in 1922. He chose the text written by Jean de la ville de Mirmont, a young poet who was killed in the First World War. The role of the piano in this cycle is used to depict the mood of each distinctive piece. In all but the third piece, the accompaniment is set using rolling chordal patterns to depict flowing water, and at times, the rocking of a boat. In the third piece the texture succumbs to a simple chordal structure which paints the starkness of the moonlit night. Through the entire set the voice floats across the top of the accompaniment conveying a sense of endlessness. La mer est infinie et mes rêves sont fous. La mer chante au soleil en battant les falaises Et mes rêves légers ne se sentent plus d'aise De danser sur la mer comme des oiseaux soûls.
The sea is endless and my dreams are mad. The sea sings to the sun, lashing the cliffs, And my flighty dreams taste only of the pleasure Of dancing over the sea like drunken birds.
Le vaste mouvement des vagues les emporte, La brise les agite et les roule en ses plis ; Jouant dans le sillage, ils feront une escorte Aux vaisseaux que mon cœur dans leur fuite a suivis.
The vast motion of the waves carries them, The breeze shakes and tumbles them in the folds; Playing in the wake, they form an escort To the ships my heart has followed in their flight.
Ivres d'air et de sel et brûlés par l'écume De la mer qui console et qui lave des pleurs Ils connaîtront le large et sa bonne amertume ; Les goélands perdus les prendront pour des leurs.
Wild with air and salt and scalded by the foam Of a sea that consoles and washes tears away, They will know the ocean and its good bitterness; Stray gulls will take them for their own. (Translated by Shawn Thuris)