A Song of Joys

"Stephen Chatman's A Song of Joys was commissioned by the Calgary Philharmonic Society with assistance from the Canada Council. The 21-minute work in seven movements, premiered in Calgary May 2, 2014, was originally conceived as a companion work to Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Based on fragments of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, A Song of Joys shares several characteristics with the Beethoven masterpiece, including identical orchestral instrumentation and a critical role of the chorus. More importantly, both works celebrate humanity and the spirit of love: the universal brotherhood of man through joy and the love ofthe heavenly father. From Whitman's opening line, O to make the most jubilant song! to his concluding lines, 'With the love of comrades, With the life-long love of comrades,' the spirit of love, universal brotherhood, transcendentalism, and joy pervades the work.

 

 A Song of Joys features two instrumental soloists'the timpanist and percussionist playing a vast array of percussion instruments. The work is unique in that it balances two distinct entities: a frequently virtuosic, multi-timbral, poly-stylistic 'double concerto' versus large chorus with soli and orchestra. These two elements are either separated or combined throughout the contrasting movements. Two movements (One Hour to Madness and Joy! and I dance with the dancers) feature timpani/percussion soli with orchestra only. The final movement, With the love of comrades, builds to the resounding climax of the work." -Tara Wohlberg

 

Instrumentation: 3[1.2.pic] 2 2 3[1.2.cbn] - 4 2 3 0 - timp+1[multi-instrument parts] - str

Duration: 20:00