Name: The Dreamer by Alan Torok
Duration: 2 min 45 s
Description: The dreamer's personality is embodied in the solo bass part. The dreamer lopes through his life—calm and unconcerned, occasionally breaking out in passionate (but always “street-cool”) expression.

The dreamer's personality is embodied in the solo bass part. The dreamer lopes through his life—calm and unconcerned, occasionally breaking out in passionate (but always “street-cool”) expression.

The Dreamer

African Sketches

Homage To Mudarra (Las Campanelas) Prelude No 3

Oremus for Male Choir and Wind Ensemble

Performed by the Estonian National Male Choir and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Orchestra, conducted by Hando Põldmäe, 11.05.2017

Oremus for male choir and wind ensemble

Performed by the Estonian Television Concert Choir, conducted by Külli Kiivet

English translation of the text by Ernst Enno

When the flower died down in the meadow,
Then everything stood still,
There was no birdsong to be heard,
Nor cricket calls as well.
The stream so quiet ever rippled
As did the rain drop down —
When the flower died.

The gray of night covered forest and land.
The cold wind from somewhere blew —
Grey night, and joy, and times gone by,
And then a distant echo mild:
When, O Wanderer, will you get home,
When will you all, oh all forget,
Grey wandering little bird?

The rippling stream, the only sound,
As well as rain and drops of tears —
You'll know how many flowers die,
My bloom, down in the meadow,
For over every single heart
Will row th'approaching autumn.
And the flower passes.

Original Text:

Kui suri lill all niidu pääl,
Kõik loodus seisis leinas,
Ei helisenud linnuhääl,
Ei sirtski sirtsund heinas,
All oja üksi vulises
Ja vihmavesi sulises —
Kui suri lillekene.

Hall õhtu kattis metsa, maad,
Ja tuul käis kuskilt jahe —
Hall õhtu, õnn ja kadun'd a'ad
Ja kauge kaja mahe:
Mil, rändaja, sa koju saad,
Mil kõike, kõike unustad;
Hall teede linnukene?

All oja üksi ainus hääl
Ja vihm ja silmavesi —
Küll tead, kuis sureb niidu pääl
Lill, palju lillekesi,
Sest üle iga südame
Nii sõuab ikka sügise
Ja lahkub lillekene.

Kui suri lill ("When the flower died") for girls choir (SSAA)

Scored for Soprano and String Orchestra (min. 3/3/2/2/1). Duration: 8 minutes.

Commissioned by Esprit Orchestra as part of the celebrations of 150 years of Ontario’s entrance into Confederation, this work was inspired by Ontario’s cultural inclusivity and diversity, particularly that for Syrian refugees. One of the largest humanitarian crises of the early 21st century – the war in Syria, led to a mass exodus of the country’s citizens seeking shelter elsewhere in the world. Unfortunately, not many countries were open and welcoming to the influx of refugees, however Canada being a world leader of openness and generosity, embraced thousands of Syrian people, settling many of them in the province of Ontario.
Recently I have come across an article in the Toronto Life magazine featuring an interview with a Syrian family describing their incredible tortures while being in captivity and their agonizing long journey to the “land of hope”, as one of the family members referred to Canada. The text used in these songs comes directly from the lines of the interview and is set in a way to convey the feelings of terror that the family went through.
The title of this song cycle is meant to express my personal frustration with the way the world has reacted to these events – almost indifferently, closing their borders and letting the crisis play out. “Ephemeral” translates from Greek as “lasting for a short time”, thus making a social commentary on the way the media headlines treated the events. I, however, as an artist intend to create awareness and put a face (and sound) to this human tragedy. Each song is approximately two minutes long, representative of the fleeting quality of the subject, but composed with passion and vehemence and should be performed accordingly. The first and second movements are intended to be performed with frenzy and agony. The third movement describes the family’s arrival to Canada and even though the ascending vocal lines hint to a new beginning, the harmony of the orchestra creates a bittersweet taste mixing the feelings of joy with memories of the past.

Ephemeral Songs (Soprano, String Orchestra)

Gold leaf

Original song by Bill Brennan and Andrea Koziol from their new recording.

2. Couldn't It Be

guitar quartet [15'37"] 
Premiered by Minneapolis Guitar Quartet. Taplin Auditorium, Princeton, USA. 3/5/95.

a  porous or
vesicular
carbonate of
lime...
deposited near the sources
and along the courses
of calcareous
springs.

Juliet Palmer

Tufa

This solo work belongs to a set of 4 pieces setting Whitman’s Calamus poems, for cello and soprano. The work references many musical motifs from the previous songs, which are available from the Canadian Music Centre. The other songs are: Calamus 6, Lacrimosa, Aliment Roots, and No Labour Saving Machine.

The Dreamer

Alan Torok

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