Blackford: Sagrada Familia Symphony; Babel / Hill, Ikon Singers, BBC NO Wales
Details
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Artist
- Rebecca Bottone, Alesandro Fisher, Stephen Gadd, Ikon Singers & Ens
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Lyrita
- Released
- Mar 01, 2024
- Catalog #
- SRCD432
- UPC
- 5020926043221
About
Antoni Gaudí’s monumental temple La Sagrada Familia is a universe within a building. Its mass of stone and metal is bathed in coloured light diffused from dazzling stained glass windows. The colossal structure is supported by great pillars inspired by the shapes of tree trunks that re-inforce the impression of a spiritual forest. Around the main access points to the basilica are three great facades; Nativity, Passion and Glory. Each is a visual world unto itself, stylistically apart yet united by Gaudí’s grandiose vision. These three facades are the inspiration of my three-movement La Sagrada Familia Symphony. The visual journey, from the representational to the abstract, is something I also tried to mirror in the music. When I visited La Sagrada Familia in October 2019 there was still scaffolding to support the work on the remaining towers. Whereas my symphony is inspired by that monumental building, I hope that my musical structure can stand alone as an homage to Gaudí in its own right. The two parts of the cantata begin similarly, presenting first the children of Seth - then in the second part, the children of Noah. Realizing that the aftermath of the destruction of the Tower of Babel could be anti-climactic, I left part of the Noah story unfinished at the end of Part I, and concluded it as an Epilogue. I wanted God’s promise to be the note on which the work should end, a message of hope that the divinity would protect His creation throughout the seasons: “While earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall never cease.” These beautiful words are taken up by the choir and soloists contrapuntally and lead directly to the hymn: Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven, whose melody was woven into the closing section of Part One. Following Britten’s inspiration in Noye’s Fludde and St Nicholas, I invite the audience to join in the hymn, celebrating creation and the world that has been entrusted to us. Babel uses the chorus extensively to narrate both stories, as well as to evoke the terror of the flood and the exuberance of the construction of the tower. In addition to set pieces, such as the Nimrod baritone aria, and the soprano aria, “Do not fear the largeness of the showers,” the three soloists often sing together in close harmony as the other-worldly voice of God. The instrumental forces are relatively modest, with the piano duet supported by the sustaining power of the organ, backed by two percussionists. This sound world is redolent of those Britten masterpieces for amateur choirs, ensembles and audiences, which have inspired many composers since, and to which I too am gratefully indebted.
Tracklist 13 tracks
-
1 I. Nativity 10:02
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Nativity
- Duration
- 10:02
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Richard Blackford
-
2 II. Passion 08:57
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Passion
- Duration
- 08:57
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Richard Blackford
-
3 III. Gloria 07:22
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Gloria
- Duration
- 07:22
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Ensemble
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Conductor
- Richard Blackford
-
4 Part 1: The Flood: The children of Seth praised God 04:50
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part 1: The Flood: The children of Seth praised God
- Duration
- 04:50
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Ensemble
- Ikon, Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill
-
5 Part 1: The Flood: God gave the signal and it began to rain 03:30
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part 1: The Flood: God gave the signal and it began to rain
- Duration
- 03:30
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Performer
- Stephen Gadd, Alessandro Fisher
- Ensemble
- Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill
-
6 Part 1: The Flood: The rain ceased 03:43
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part 1: The Flood: The rain ceased
- Duration
- 03:43
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Performer
- Rebecca Bottone, Alessandro Fisher, Stephen Gadd
- Ensemble
- Ikon, Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill
-
7 Part 1: The Flood: Do not fear the largeness of the showers 04:33
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part 1: The Flood: Do not fear the largeness of the showers
- Duration
- 04:33
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Performer
- Stephen Gadd
- Ensemble
- Ikon, Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill
-
8 Part 2: The Babel: The children of Noah were three 04:00
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part 2: The Babel: The children of Noah were three
- Duration
- 04:00
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Performer
- Alessandro Fisher
- Ensemble
- Ikon, Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill
-
9 Part 2: The Babel: Now Nimrod, the mighty warrior 04:10
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part 2: The Babel: Now Nimrod, the mighty warrior
- Duration
- 04:10
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Performer
- Rebecca Bottone, Alessandro Fisher, Stephen Gadd
- Ensemble
- Ikon, Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill
-
10 Part 2: The Babel: And He confounded their language 04:55
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Part 2: The Babel: And He confounded their language
- Duration
- 04:55
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Performer
- Rebecca Bottone, Alessandro Fisher, Stephen Gadd
- Ensemble
- Ikon, Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill
-
11 Epilogue: God's Promise to Noah: But Noah was afraid 02:42
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Epilogue: God's Promise to Noah: But Noah was afraid
- Duration
- 02:42
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Performer
- Rebecca Bottone, Alessandro Fisher, Stephen Gadd
- Ensemble
- Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill
-
12 Epilogue: God's Promise to Noah: While earth remains 02:33
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Epilogue: God's Promise to Noah: While earth remains
- Duration
- 02:33
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Performer
- Rebecca Bottone, Alessandro Fisher, Stephen Gadd
- Ensemble
- Ikon, Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill
-
13 Epilogue: God's Promise to Noah: Priase My Soul the King of Heaven 02:44
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Epilogue: God's Promise to Noah: Priase My Soul the King of Heaven
- Duration
- 02:44
- Composer
- Richard Blackford
- Performer
- Rebecca Bottone, Alessandro Fisher, Stephen Gadd
- Ensemble
- Ikon, Ikon Ensemble
- Conductor
- David Hill