Text: Linda Tutas Haugen 
SATB chorus, Piano 
Commissioned By: American Composers Forum Faith Partners Residency
Premiere: March 18, 2007; Colonial Church of Edina, MN
Colonial Church of Edina Choir, Timothy Sawyer, music director 

Revised, 2013. 
Recording by First Readings Project, J. David Moore, conductor

Program Notes:
The composers reflections on this anthem: "In many ways, this piece is my journal of a very difficult year (2006) - through my father's cancer, death, my father-in-law's terrible car accident and recovery, the death of a dear friend, and the loss of our two 17-year-old family cats. My writing was slow and often involved periods of grieving."
"What I learned in my searching of the Scriptures and my year of struggles, is that in the middle of all the sadness there are blessings, joy, and preciousness to each day, and for this I can sing to God. That is what this piece is all about. the multitude of difficulties really brought this message to my heart, repeatedly. I wrote the text with fragments and inspiration from various Psalms, and pieces from Isaiah and the Gospel of Luke. The composition is inscribed with a Native American quote full of wisdom that sums up my year in the shadows: 'The secret of life is in the shadows and not in the open sun; to see anything at all, you must look deeply into the shadow of a living thing' (Ute)."

In The Shadow, I Will Sing!

SATB chorus, Symphony orchestra
Duration: 38:00

Commissioned By: Meet The Composer, New Residencies Fellowship

Premiere: Meet The Composer Gala Farewell Concert
March, 2002; Chester Fritz Auditorium, University of North Dakota, 
Grand Forks, ND, Greater Grand Forks Sympony Orchestra,
Mass Choir: Central High School (ND), Red River High School (ND), East Grand Forks High School (MN), Timm Rolek, conductor 

Program Notes for Gloria
From Vivaldi to Poulenc, composers have been inspired by the Gloria text for hundreds of years. The traditional text taken from the Latin Mass, begins with the angelic hymn from the account of the Nativity in the book of Luke . “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The Latin prose continues with elements of praise, invocations, and petitions. It includes three ideas: honor to God, peace on earth, and good will to humankind. During the Middle Ages, the Gloria was given over 50 different settings of Gregorian chant. 

“What I have done differently in this setting of the Gloria,” explains composer Linda Tutas Haugen, “is to divide the Latin text into six sections, and to follow each Latin section with an English commentary or extrapolation taken from the book of Revelations. Written by St. John, Revelations represents a vision of heaven and life after death. Therefore, in addition to the ideas of honor, peace, and good will, there is the juxtaposition of earthly hymns reflecting the human condition, and the heavenly songs of saints and angels.” 

“Many emotions, ideas, and life experiences are present in this work. I was sketching the ninth section soon after the events of September 11th, and my response to the devastation is reflected in the Agnus Dei. Paired with this is the tenth section, which is dedicated to the memory of four children who have died in the past several years, Kelly, Mark, MacKenzie, and Christie. They are my friends’ children, and the music portrays both the grief and hope I saw in my friends. Certainly no artist can ignore how our world has changed. Gloria is my attempt to present an old form within the broader context and meaning of contemporary life. Ultimately however, it is a reflection of the human condition and our relationship with the Divine.”

Gloria - XI. Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus - XII. Hallelujah!

Gloria - X. The Great Multitute

Gloria - IX. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei 2

Gloria - VIII. The Voice Of Many Angels

Gloria - VII. Domine Fili Unigenite

Gloria - VI. Song Of Moses

Gloria - V. Domine Deus

Gloria - IV. You Are Worthy, Our Lord And God

The Fable of Old Turtle 
Based on the children's book Old Turtle by Douglas Wood 
Chamber orchestra, Native American flute, Narrator 

"A strangely wonderful sound" - Grand Forks Herald 

Duration: 18:48
Instrumentation: fl., picc., cl in B flat, bsn, 2 hns., timp., per.1 & 2, pno., vln.1, vln.2, vla., vnc., db, narrator

Performed by:  Native American Flutist, Keith Bear, Chiara String Quartet, members of the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, Douglas Wood, narrator, Timm Rolek, conductor 

Commissioned By: Meet The Composer, New Residencies Fellowship

Old Turtle, written by Douglas Wood with watercolors by Cheng-Khee Chee, published in l992, is a fable. It begins long ago with different animals and elements of nature arguing that God is like themselves. Old Turtle interrupts the argument and helps them all to realize that the essence of God is greater than their own personal characteristics. She foretells the arrival of human beings in the world: “they will come in many colors and shapes, with different faces and different ways of speaking.” The people come and soon begin to argue about God. They kill each other and harm the earth. Finally, the mountain, the ocean, stone, breeze and star, who argued earlier, speak to the people. Echoing Old Turtle’s words, they cause the people to understand their relationship to each other and to all of nature. The book powerfully teaches peace, tolerance, and stewardship of the earth. Since its premiere, this work has received over 70 standing ovation performances throughout the United States.

The musical setting “The Fable of Old Turtle” by composer Linda Tutas Haugen portrays the drama found in the book. It begins by depicting each animal or element of the earth with its own musical theme or motive. After each of these creatures gives its own statement of who or what they think God is, they begin to argue. The music reflects this with increasing dissonance and tension. This is interrupted by the solo cello, representing “Old Turtle” who insists they stop. The cello continues with cadenza-like material interspersed with instrumental accompaniment. During this section previous musical themes and motives are re-introduced as “Old Turtle” describes the arrival of people in the world. The Native American flute begins with a Hidatsa friendship song, echoed in duet with solo cello. This song develops into a joyful, gigue-like dance.
As the people forget about who they are and begin to argue, kill and hurt the earth, the music continues to grow in intensity reaching a climax of destruction and death. But it is the creatures of the earth who plead for the people to stop. They echo musical ideas previously stated by “Old Turtle” and the people listen. The final coda section represents the hope and understanding the people eventually realize between each other and the earth. The composition closes with a prayerful improvised Native American flute
solo, reflecting calm and peace.

Buy Music Score

The Fable of Old Turtle

A Prayer for the Earth (7’) for solo clarinet and strings, features a dialogue between the solo clarinet and the strings, often highlighting the viola section. It incorporates an old Norwegian folk tune, which represents the simple beauty of an ancient Earth.  The musical material is fragmented and develops in intensity, eventually returning to a restatement of the tune, and an unresolved ending.

Drawn from my deep love of nature, this work is a human response to the changes we see occurring throughout the planet.  From rising water levels, radical weather patterns affecting climate, animals and all living beings, to oceans full of plastic, garbage, and declining ecosystems, this piece is an expression of concern for the world we all share.  I believe in motivation through love, a sense of responsibility and awareness. To quote a Native American proverb, "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children."  LTH

Commissioned by the Minnesota Sinfonia with support from the McKnight Foundation, Jay Fishman, conductor, Paul Scholtz, clarinet.  Premiere performance.

A Prayer for the Earth

Linda Tutas Haugen is a composer, performer, and teaching artist, whose works have been performed throughout the US and in Europe. Her catalogue of more than 48 works includes 26 choral compositions, eight orchestral scores, two major works for chorus and orchestra, an opera, multiple solo instrumental, vocal, and chamber pieces, and a piece for wind ensemble. Her work has been critically acclaimed as "music of character and genuine beauty," (Minneapolis Star Tribune) "superbly crafted... engaging... beautiful and… powerful." (Opera Today) 

During her career spanning more than 20 years, Haugen has created music with an expressive lyrical style that is both moving and meaningful. She is drawn to projects that reach deeply into the well of human experience. Her willingness to confront challenging emotions and issues through her music, whether they are personal, cultural, or spiritual, inspires performers and audiences alike. 

Haugen is inspired by a variety of historical, literary and ethnic sources. She uses non-traditional instrumentation such as Native American flutes, ethnic percussion, and folk instruments to bring together and explore different cultural traditions. In her opera Pocahontas, she gives musical life to the famous woman, the beginnings of colonialism, and the tragic clash of two civilizations. One critic described the performance as "one of the most riveting 100 minutes I have ever attended." Duluth Star Tribune

In The Shadow, I Will Sing!

Linda Tutas Haugen

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