Melody Jenkins, soprano.  Elizabeth Terry, piano.  Performed at my senior recital at the University of Arkansas.  Based on Medieval Czech poetry.  This movement is about Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia in the Czech Republic.  It features a Gregorian chant-like section on the words “Kyrie eleison.” 

Text:

“Svatý Václave”
anonymous Czech poet (ca. 12th century)

Svatý Václave, 
vévodo české země, 
kněže náš, 
pros za ny boha, 
svatého ducha! 
Kyrieleison! 

Nebeskéť jest dvorstvo krásné, 
blazě tomu, ktož tam pójde:
v život věčný, 
oheň jasný
svatého ducha! 
Kyrieleison!

Pomoci tvé žádámy, 
smiluj sĕ nad námi, 
utĕš smutné, 
otžeň vše zlé, 
svatý Václave! 
Kyrieleison!

“Saint Wenceslas”
translated by Alfred French

Saint Wenceslas,
Bohemia’s noble lord,
our prince!
O pray for us to God
unto the holy ghost,
Kyrie eleison!

Glorious is the realm of heaven,
and blessed he that enters there,
to reach eternal life;
the sacred flame
of the holy ghost,
Kyrie eleison!

On thee we call for aid,
have mercy on us, lord!
raise up the poor in heart,
from all despite deliver us,
Saint Wenceslas,
Kyrie eleison!
 



Four Czech Songs (2004) - I. Svatý Václave - Live Performance

Melody Jenkins, soprano.  Elizabeth Terry, piano.  Performed live at my senior recital at the University of Arkansas.  Based on Medieval Czech poetry.  This movement is a love song that was written, like the Wedding Hymn of Solomon, as an allegory of the yearning of the Christian soul for the love of Christ.  The opening passage in the piano serves as a ritornello throughout the piece.

Text:

“Otep Myrrhy”
anonymous Czech poet (ca. 14th century)

Otep myrrhy mnĕť mój milý,
milujeť mĕ z své všie síly,
a já jeho,
zmilelého,
proňžť netbám nic na jiného.

Mój milý mně biel, červen, krásen,
jako leteční den jasen.
To div z diva,
žeť sem živa,
proňžť se mé srdečko znímá.

Vstanúc i pójdu toho dle,
poptám sobĕ, proňžť mé srdečko mdlé
řkúc:  Batíčku,
zmilelíčku,
zjev mi svú tvář, sokolíčku.

Jehožť má duše miluje,
viděli ste, zda kde tu je?
Milost silná,
žádost pilná,
k němužť má mysl nemylna.

Když diech právě o puolnoci,
stržeť mě jeden z jeho moci
tak neznámě 
vzezřev na mě
veceť:  Přenes mě v svém prámě.

Tehdy já naň vzezřech nice,
domněch se svého panice.
Řiech:  Kam koho?
A on:  Toho,
jehož ty hledáš přemnoho.

“A Bundle of Myrrh”
translated by Alfred French

As myrrh is my dear love to me,
he loveth me distractedly;
and I love him,
my heart’s desire:
his spirit rules my heart entire.

His skin is pale, his color bright;
as radiant he as summer light.
The miracle
my life became,
has set my longing heart aflame.

I will arise and go apart,
to search for him with fainting heart;
and say: ‘Dear Lord,
my precious love.
Reveal to me your face, my dove!’

O tell me if ye saw him here,
the one my spirit loveth dear!
My love is firm;
my thoughts abide,
for ever, ever, by his side.

I, wandering at the midnight hour 
met one whose face recalled his power:
so strange did he
look down on me:
‘Convey me in thy custody!’

I gazed into the face above me,
thinking I glimpsed the eyes that love me.
I said:  ‘Where?  Whom?’
‘That one’; said he,
‘for whom you search so passionately.’

  

Four Czech Songs (2004) - II. Otep Myrrhy - Live Performance

This one was never performed live, so here is the audio.  Based on Medieval Czech poetry.  This movement is about the world’s Christian history from Eve’s sin through the birth and death of Christ.

Text:
“Ostrovská Píseň”
anon. Czech poet (12th-13th century)

Slovo do světa stvořenie
v božství schováno,
jež pro Evino zhřěšenie
na svět posláno.

Dievcě dřéve porozenie
jest zvěstováno,
z Davidova pokolenie
božsky vzchováno.

Ot něhože náše křščenie
jménem nazváno,
pro drahé náše spasenie
židóm prodáno.

I pro náše vykúpenie
na smrt prodáno,
jehož nám slavné vzkřiešenie
vesele dáno.

“Song of Ostrov”
Translated by Mac Hammond

The Logos at world’s creation
In God’s head was kept,
At Eve’s sinful transgression
To the world was sent.

To the Virgin the gestation
Is soon announced,
From David’s long generation
God’s Son descended.

The same holy appellation
For christ’ning was used,
For our eternal salvation
To the Jews was sold.

For the sake of our redemption
He to death was sold,
To us his high resurrection
With joy is given. 




Four Czech Songs (2004) - III. Ostrovská Píseň

Melody Jenkins, soprano.  Elizabeth Terry, piano.  Performed at my senior recital at the University of Arkansas.  Based on Medieval Czech poetry.  The text is pleading for God’s mercy.  I used dissonant chords a dramatic melody to convey the sense of urgency.

Text:

“Hospodine, pomiluj ny”
from prayers of Jan Milič (14th century)

Hospodine, pomiluj ny!
Jezukriste, pomiluj ny!
Ty, spase všeho mira,
spasiž ny i uslyšiž,
hospodine, hlasy našě!
Daj nám všěm, hospodine,
žizn a mír v zemi!
Krleš!  Krleš!  Krleš!

“Lord Have Mercy Upon Us”
translated by Alfred French

Lord, have mercy upon us
Christ, have mercy upon us
Saviour of all the world
O save us, and lend ears
Lord, unto our prayers.
Grant to us all, O Lord,
Harvest and peace through the land,
Kyrie eleison.



Four Czech Songs (2004) - IV. Hospodine, pomiluj ny - Live Performance

A student (possibly me) gets distracted while writing a fugue in counterpoint class, wandering off into an octatonic daydream.  She comes to and manages to finish a two-part invention, albeit in the wrong key...

Counterpoint? (2004)

Performed as the opener to my senior recital by the Trumpet Ensemble at the University of Arkansas (Nick Althouse, Laura Cobb, Matt Cunningham, Andrew Morris, Brandon Morris).  

Fanfare (2005) - Live Performance

Ronnamarie Jensen-Haley, violin.  Andrew Thompson, viola.  Performed live in the string composition seminar at the University of Arkansas.

Rondo For Violin And Viola (2005)

For piano.  Live performance coming soon!

The "fantasia" part of the title refers to the free form of the piece, but also that the music traces the story of a fantasy--the cycle of hope, joy, loss, and acceptance that accompanies us through life.  "Lexiconia" describes the way two groups of pitches--on which the melodies, progressions, and key areas of the entire piece are based--work together in counterpoint and are recontextualized, changing meaning as the key and mode shifts.

Fantasia Lexiconia (2015)

Inspired by a conversation about aging, Schenkerian analysis, and terrible instrument combinations with Meredith Anderson on her birthday, 

Slow Slide Into Disappointment (2015) - A Parody of Existential Angst and Fear of Aging

Inspired by Youngstown's most beautiful park at the time of year when one can find solitude there.

This movement is a journey around the Lily Pond, which has a path encircling its banks.  The arch form (ABCDCBA) and many melodic palindromes reflect this circularity and that, no matter which direction you travel, the destination is the same.  In the A section, the reality of the landscape and time of year dominates the senses--the cold, footsteps in the snow, a few lone ducks who haven't left for the winter.  The B sections are harmonic palindromes of each other (circular progressions); the mind begins to wander, and at the end snaps back into reality.  During the middle of the piece, the mind is in a fantasy world, recalling previous trips around the same path.

Winter In Mill Creek Park (2016) - I. Lily Pond

Inspired by Youngstown's most beautiful park at the time of year when one can find solitude there.

This movement is about the Bear's Den, a landscape dominated by large boulders and a slope leading down to the creek, Bear's Den Run.  The overlapping, long chords in the brass reflect the grandeur of the rocks.  As one descends, the water (wind instruments and string bass) slowly comes into view.  A few boulders create a path out into the stream; the openness lets the pale winter sun shine sparkle on the water.  The path back up is more treacherous, and the mind remembers and longs for the beauty of the water and sun now behind.  One last look from the top...

Winter In Mill Creek Park (2016) - II. Bear's Den

After a ten-year hiatus from composing, I was finally inspired again.

Haley Beverburg

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