From Deep Space

This Wednesday, 60 singers from Women's Chorus will join the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra for a performance of one of the most iconic orchestral suites of all time: "The Planets," written between 1914-1916 by Gustav Holst. In the suite, Holst takes listeners on a journey through the galaxy in an astrological context. Having become intrigued by horoscopes and the differing personalities of planets, he formed his musical thesis around the ideas and emotions associated with their alleged influence on the human psyche.

"Neptune, the Mystic," was the seventh and last planet he featured as a movement of his work (Earth was excluded for astrological reasons and Pluto was not yet discovered to even be considered a planet). Holst saw Neptune as the most transcendent and distant planet of all. He captured that mysticism with long, lyrical phrases featuring various winds and an eight-part women's chorus.

Listen to a recording of "Neptune" below, performed by the BBC Philharmonic, and then hear the BYU Women's Chorus and the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra present the full suite on Nov. 17 in the deJong concert hall (http://www.byuarts.com/).

FYI: The female chorus begins singing at about 4:27 in the video and breaks into the eight-part harmonies at about 5:05.

I'll Sing Hallelujah

Sometime in the first few weeks of learning "Hallelujah," Sis. Applonie mentioned that it was rooted in the Sacred Harp style, referring to the brighter tone and alternative vowels we were using. I decided to do a bit of research on Sacred Harp and - to my delight - discovered some things about it that are reminiscent of the way we sing and love "Hallelujah" in class. Below are a variety of facts about Sacred Harp singing.

• The original core music from this genre was published in The Sacred Harp in 1844, featuring tunes by New England composers.
  
• A group of traditional sacred harp singers, referred to as a "class," will gather and sit in a "hollow square" with different parts on each side.


• Many singers will beat or swing their hands in time with the conductor (or "leader") in an effort to support the leader and keep the class together.


• They often sing without instrumental accompaniment with a remarkable resonance, volume, intensity and enthusiasm.


• The purpose of singing, for traditional sacred harp singers, is for their own enjoyment and inspiration, not for a listening audience.

We have been given the opportunity to dedicate so many of our songs to other people in our lives (Jeanie, Under the Willow, Jehovah, etc.), but maybe this one can be for us - for our "own enjoyment and inspiration rather than [just] for a listening audience."

Images From Under A Willow Tree

There are some particular things I always visualize when we sing Under the Willow. Since it has been a bit of time since we've really rehearsed the song, I thought it might be a nice refresher to dwell on some of the specific images that drive both the lyrics and music as we dust it off for the concert this weekend.

First, we can revisit our image of the child. Each of us has a completely different, personal picture of this individual. Perhaps the thing we can all recall, however, is how dear and tender that person is to us. We can ponder the beauty of life, the simplicity of childhood, the love of a mother and the promise of life after death.

Next, I believe we have all pictured the mourning mother at one time or another. It is her emotions, prayers, movements, and thoughts that we follow through the course of the song. We can remember her pain, her hope, and how it is braided into so many aspects of the music.

Last of all, I thought it would be helpful to picture the willow tree itself. What is significant about a weeping willow? Does the tree seem to share in the mother's pain, or does it shelter her with comfort and peace? How does it set the scene for the song? I found two photographs that might represent the themes of sorrow and hope expressed in Under the Willow.

Please feel free to post any comments or thoughts that cross your mind as you revisit these images and their meaning to you.