Hymn Symphony 

SATB Chorus and Orchestra (2020)

Movements: 

I. Hymn to the Earth 

II. Hymn to Eternity 

III. Hymn to a Prayer 

IV. Hymn to a Requiem  (Psalm 88)

V. Hymn to the Stars 

Instrumentation: 

2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo)

2 Oboes

2 Clarinets in A

2 Bassoons (2nd doubling Contrabassoon)

4 Horns in F

3 Trumpets in C

2 Tenor Trombones

Bass Trombone

Tuba

Timpani

Percussion (2 players): Crotales, Glockenspiel, Cymbals, Suspended Cymbals, Triangle, Tamtam, Bass Drum

Harp

Chorus (SATB)

Strings

Performance duration ca. 28 minutes

Complete Poems and Texts:

I. Hymn to the Earth

All day the air triumphs with its two voices 

Of wind and rain: 

As loud as if in anger it rejoices, 

Drowning the sound of earth 

That gulps and gulps in choked endeavour vain 

To swallow the rain. 

Half the night, too, only the wild air speaks 

With wind and rain, 

Till forth the dumb source of the river breaks 

And drowns the rain and wind, 

Bellows like a giant bathing in mighty mirth 

The triumph of earth.

Poem: "The Source" by Edward Thomas [1878-1917], published 1917

II. Hymn to Eternity 

In futurity

I prophetic see

That the earth from sleep

(Grave the sentence deep)

Shall arise and seek

For her Maker meek;

And the desert wild

Become garden mild.*

To see a world in a grain of sand,

And a heav’n in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand

And eternity in an hour.**

Turn away no more:

Why wilt thou turn away?

The starry floor,

The watery shore,

Are given thee till the break of day.***

From poems by William Blake [1757-1827]

* from The Little Girl Lost

** from Auguries of Innocence

*** from Hear the Bard

III. Hymn to a Prayer

If all of my words 

Were written in air

Silent as sky

I would do anything

If you could hear me now

Still as moonlight

Silent as stars

Hear me

See me

For you

For me

Amen

The dreams in my mind

Infinite waves

Crashing like time

I would do anything

If you could hear me now

Still as moonlight

Silent as stars

Hear me

See me

For you

For me

Amen

(Text by Corey Field)

IV. Hymn to a Requiem (Psalm 88) 

O lord, I have cried day and night

My soul, and my life, draw unto the grave

Why cast off my soul?

Why hide from me?

Selah Lord

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? 

Thou hast laid me in darkness, in the deep

I have known death from my youth

Thy wrath, lies upon me, beneath all thy waves

Shall thy love be in the grave? 

Lovers and friends far from me

My eyes grow dim

Selah Lord

Your waves do encompass

I am floating free

Far from Thee

Remember me

Adapted from Psalm 88: Sources - Geneva Bible (1560), Bishops Bible (1568), King James Bible (1611).

V. Hymn to the Stars

I will curse the ground no more 

No more to destroy

I have set my bow in the cloud

That I will think

That I will remember 

Seed time and harvest,

And summer and winter

And day and night 

Shall not cease

Look up now to heaven

And number the stars

If you can

Look up into heaven

And count the stars

If you can

Adapted from Genesis Chapters 8, 9, and 15: Sources - Geneva Bible (1560), Bishops Bible (1568), King James Bible (1611)

MEDIA: 

A synthesized/digitized MP3 performance (computer generated by the music engraving software, not live musicians)  is available on Youtube in two versions:

Version with scrolling piano/vocal score:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUGsqGevfKQ

Version with scrolling full score:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJtRpXkNbyk

Please note in this computer rendered  performance on Youtube, all vocals use the syllable "ah" and do not sing the actual words.  Following along with  the score online (see score options online below) is recommended to see what words are sung in a live performance setting.

VIEW THE PIANO/VOCAL SCORE ONLINE:

The complete piano/vocal score (for rehearsal only) may be viewed online at:

https://issuu.com/firstleafmusic/docs/field_hymn_symphony__piano-vocal_score_

VIEW THE FULL ORCHESTRAL SCORE ONLINE:

The complete full orchestral conductor's score may be viewed online at:

https://issuu.com/firstleafmusic/docs/hymn_symphony__full_score__-_corey_field

PRINTED SCORES FOR PURCHASE:

Printed piano/vocal scores for study and rehearsal are available for purchase: Vocal score: US $15.00  

Full orchestral score (11 x 17) or study size score (8.5 x 14): special order on request

Please email for ordering information:  firstleafmusic@gmail.com

PERFORMING MATERIALS:

Orchestral performing materials are available on rental/hire. Enquiries:   firstleafmusic@gmail.com

This work may be performed individually or as part of the complete Choral Symphony Trilogy in the following order:    Dreams Symphony | Hymn Symphony  |  Shakespeare Symphony