May Peace be unto you

Written for SSATBarB choir. Nation shall speak peace unto nation is the motto of the British Broadcasting Corporation. This paraphrase of the text from the Book of Micah was compiled for the BBC’s coat of arms by the College of Arms in 1933.

The magnificent interweaving of harmonies and dialogue-like Voices in Handel’s For Unto Us A Child Is Born make it a perfect addition to the festive choral repertoire. German-born British Baroque composer George Frideric Handel originally composed this piece in 1741 for the English-language oratorio Messiah which eventually became one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. As the last song of Scene 3 of Part I of the oratorio which addresses Isaiah's specific prophecy about the virgin birth of a Messiah For Unto Us A Child Is Born tells the news of Christmas thebirth of a son in Isaiah’s words as found in the Scripture (Isaiah 9:6). The delicate familiar theme is introduced by the Sopranos and taken up by their counter-voices the Tenors later the same dialog is given over to the Altos and Basses. The tutti culminates in 'Wonderful' 'Counselor' 'The Mighty God' 'The Everlasting Father' and 'The Prince of Peace'.

The magnificent interweaving of harmonies and dialogue-like Voices in Handel’s For Unto Us A Child Is Born make it a perfect addition to the festive choral repertoire. German-born British Baroque composer George Frideric Handel originally composed this piece in 1741 for the English-language oratorio Messiah which eventually became one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. As the last song of Scene 3 of Part I of the oratorio which addresses Isaiah's specific prophecy about the virgin birth of a Messiah For Unto Us A Child Is Born tells the news of Christmas thebirth of a son in Isaiah’s words as found in the Scripture (Isaiah 9:6). The delicate familiar theme is introduced by the Sopranos and taken up by their counter-voices the Tenors later the same dialog is given over to the Altos and Basses. The tutti culminates in 'Wonderful' 'Counselor' 'The Mighty God' 'The Everlasting Father' and 'The Prince of Peace'.

The magnificent interweaving of harmonies and dialogue-like Voices in Handel’s For Unto Us A Child Is Born make it a perfect addition to the festive choral repertoire. German-born British Baroque composer George Frideric Handel originally composed this piece in 1741 for the English-language oratorio Messiah which eventually became one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. As the last song of Scene 3 of Part I of the oratorio which addresses Isaiah's specific prophecy about the virgin birth of a Messiah For Unto Us A Child Is Born tells the news of Christmas thebirth of a son in Isaiah’s words as found in the Scripture (Isaiah 9:6). The delicate familiar theme is introduced by the Sopranos and taken up by their counter-voices the Tenors later the same dialog is given over to the Altos and Basses. The tutti culminates in 'Wonderful' 'Counselor' 'The Mighty God' 'The Everlasting Father' and 'The Prince of Peace'.

The magnificent interweaving of harmonies and dialogue-like Voices in Handel’s For Unto Us A Child Is Born make it a perfect addition to the festive choral repertoire. German-born British Baroque composer George Frideric Handel originally composed this piece in 1741 for the English-language oratorio Messiah which eventually became one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. As the last song of Scene 3 of Part I of the oratorio which addresses Isaiah's specific prophecy about the virgin birth of a Messiah For Unto Us A Child Is Born tells the news of Christmas thebirth of a son in Isaiah’s words as found in the Scripture (Isaiah 9:6). The delicate familiar theme is introduced by the Sopranos and taken up by their counter-voices the Tenors later the same dialog is given over to the Altos and Basses. The tutti culminates in 'Wonderful' 'Counselor' 'The Mighty God' 'The Everlasting Father' and 'The Prince of Peace'. As an individual piece this song arranged for SATB Voices with Piano accompaniment is perfect for Christian settings especially during the Christmas season.

The magnificent interweaving of harmonies and dialogue-like Voices in Handel’s For Unto Us A Child Is Born make it a perfect addition to the festive choral repertoire. German-born British Baroque composer George Frideric Handel originally composed this piece in 1741 for the English-language oratorio Messiah which eventually became one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. As the last song of Scene 3 of Part I of the oratorio which addresses Isaiah's specific prophecy about the virgin birth of a Messiah For Unto Us A Child Is Born tells the news of Christmas thebirth of a son in Isaiah’s words as found in the Scripture (Isaiah 9:6). The delicate familiar theme is introduced by the Sopranos and taken up by their counter-voices the Tenors later the same dialog is given over to the Altos and Basses. The tutti culminates in 'Wonderful' 'Counselor' 'The Mighty God' 'The Everlasting Father' and 'The Prince of Peace'.

Ensemble parts from the work for Flute (doubling Piccolo) Clarinet in B flat* Very large Tam-Tam (sounding from a high gallery) and Choir (SSATTBB).* Notated in C in the score. 'According to Hindu Cosmology we live at the end of a cycle the Kali Yuga the Dark Age. There are two important sayings of Christ that should accompany his disciples always during these challengingtimes. The first is ?The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against my Church? (Matthew 16 v. 18); and the second ?I am with you always unto the end of theworld? (Matthew 28 v. 20). These sayings form the basis of this work which falls into two main sections each with the same structure and with linkedmaterial. Each section begins with Kali Yuga which I have tried to represent in a chaotic unstructured way in contrast to the cosmic Cries of Humanity to Christ (Kyrie eleison - Lord have mercy) and Christ?s responses fromSaint Matthew?s Gospel.The work ends with a serene ?Coda? of the sacred monosyllable ?OM? representing the peace and beatitude of God?s presence. The intermingling of Christianity and Hinduism is an important simile forour times; in the same way early Christianity did not hesitate to incorporate Jewish and Greek thought.' - John Tavener

Eugene Rogers Choral Series-Commissioned by Chorus America for the Boston Children's Chorus in memory of the first anniversary of the Boston Bombing. Berry's text describes the uncertainty of the human condition that can be felt in our violent contemporary times and the fear of the world that our children will inherit. In the years since the composition was first written during which an untold number of violent acts have gripped our headlines The Peace of Wild Things has become a memorial against all violence in our society.

auf Texte aus der Bibel. Par HAKIM NAJI. Die Taube (The Dove) was commissioned by ”Kirchenmusik bei St. Anna Augsburg” to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the 'Augsburger Religionsfrieden' (Religious peace of Augsburg). It is based on three biblical verses related to peace : Gen. 8/11, Luk. 1/79, Joh. 14/27. The music is through composed and develops the character of the verses with contrasted string textures, putting in relief the expressive vocal line, declamation of light and happiness. The work exists in three versions : 1. for Tenor and string quartet, 2. for Tenor and string orchestra, 3. for Tenor and organ. First performance : by Robert Sellier, Tenor, Capella St. Anna Streichquartett, St. Anna Augsburg, Festkonzert zum Hohen Friedensfest, 8 August 2005. Gen.8/11 : ”And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off. ” Luk. 1/79 : ”To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. ” Joh.14/27 : ”Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. ” '...to guide our feet into the way of peace.' (Luke 1,79) Words and music bind people together to form fellowships which guide us into the way of peace. Singing or playing together combine bodies and souls, so that our rhythm and breathing becomes one - a sense of belonging to one another is created which instils the very nature of peace. So it is that by becoming an integral part of the music, our feet are guided 'into the way of peace'. In Luke chapter 1, both Maria and Zechariah are carried away, body and soul, in hymns of thanksgiving. They let God´s melody resound in their bodies. Ignatius, one of the Early Fathers of the Church, might have drawn his inspiration from them when he wrote to the Christians of Ephesus around the year 100, 'Let God´s melody resound in you.' The melody of our life is a single voice within God´s great melody; an everlasting celestial melody, in which we join together as integral parts - with time, we are gradually shown which chords we are given to touch and which chords to form with one another. God´s inextinguishable melody has an infinite galaxy of variations. As you would know, a variation is rooted but limitless. At our christening, God gives us a variation - an inextinguishable variation because of his promise, 'I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' (Matthew 28, 20). Deeply rooted as we are, God leads us through. He calls us to Life out of His Eternity, He lets his melody reverberate in us and finally calls us back, when we die, to His everlasting future. Let God´s melody resound in you and guide your feet into the way of peace./ Répertoire / Ténor et Quatuor à Cordes

Modern French composer organist and improviser Jean Langlais (1907-1991) studied at the Paris Conservatoire where he won many prizes. He is best remembered for his Masses and Organ works Nine Pieces being no exception. Published in 1945 the Nine Pieces for Organ reflect Langlais' compositional uses of Gregorian chant and polymodal harmonies. The Nine Pieces are entitled; 1) Song of Sorrow 2) Song of Joy 3) Song of Peace 4) Heroic Song 5) In quiet Joy 6) Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee 7) My soul longeth to depart in peace 8) Prelude on an Anthem and 9) Gregorian Rhapsody. Allmovements of Langlais' Nine Pieces for Organ are highly modern yet provide an exciting and varied piece for the advanced level organist's repertoire.

Dast Be Dast ('Hand to hand in friendship') was commissioned by Cuatro Puntos a pioneering ensemble of chamber musicians dedicated to global cooperation and peace through the writing and performance of new music worldwide.The piece was written specifically for their violist Kevin Bishop and for Rubab player Samim Zafar a student of the extraordinary Afghanistan National Institute for Music (ANIM) in Kabul. Kevin suggested that the piece should represent the two distinct but equal musical cultures of the performers and as such both players are required to adopt characteristics of each other's traditions both techniques andlanguages.Dast Be Dast illuminates various aspects of Afghan and Western music-making with both instruments exploring improvisation alongside notation controlled imitation with spontaneous elaboration and Western tonality within Afghan scales. The piece is based on three Afghan songs each heard clearly in the three movements which are played without a break:I Anar Anar (Pomegranates): a fast song where the two instruments imitate each other gradually becoming more and more elaborate.II Allah Hu (This is God): a meditative movement for solo viola based on a specific interpretation of Allah Hu sung as a lullaby by Veronica Doubleday in 2004.III Watan Jan (Dear Homeland): based on a whirling atan dance in 7/8. Gradually getting faster and faster the players have to keep up with each other's virtuosity.The work was premiered by Samim and Kevin on 23 June 2014 at ANIM Kabul Afghanistan.The work is dedicated to them both with admiration.

Cittaslow is an international network of more than 220 towns in 30 countries. Its members are towns where people are still finding themselves reminiscing over the old times; towns that are rich in theatres, squares, cafés, restaurants and spiritual places; towns with untouched landscapes and charming craftsman where people are still able to recognize the slow course of the seasons, and respect their authentic products, true taste as well as their health. The Hymn of Cittaslow, which was commissioned by the organisation itself, is entirely inspired by their commitment to the preservation of the member towns. The tempo is naturally ?slow', and the themes somehow sound familiar. On the one hand, the music emanates peace and quiet, but it also sounds grand in its lyricism, thereby reflecting the beauty of the Cittaslow towns.