Acis announces the release of “The Joyful Mysteries”, an album of captivating choral premieres from acclaimed American composer Daniel Knaggs and GRAMMY® award winning Houston Chamber Choir under their Artistic Director Robert Simpson. The main work on the album is “The Joyful Mysteries” which through this performance takes its rightful place in the rich canon of American oratorio.  It concludes with two of the latest installments of Knaggs’ 50–year Ave Maria Project (2005–2054), No. 18 for Ukraine, and No. 19 for joy.
 
KNAGGS has said: “The Joyful Mysteries is a Choral Symphony of five movements which in Catholic tradition correspond to the five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary: The angel’s Annunciation to Mary, her Visitation of Elizabeth, The Nativity of Christ, his Presentation in the temple, and later his Finding in the temple as a young boy. In his search for a way to deepen the connection to this familiar narrative, Knaggs sought, “to compose a musical meditation on paradox Joy does not cancel out all possible fear, sorrow, or suffering now or in the future” he writes. “But this joy will outlast and outweigh all adversity, a joy that, although mysterious, is yet real and offered to all people.”
 
Bringing together his libretto from Biblical texts and the writings of two medieval mystics, Hildegard von Bingen (b. c. 1098–1179) and St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153), Knaggs crafted a story both ancient and immediate. By prioritizing present tense and first and second-person language he consciously aimed “to draw everyone into the stories" and the familiar words are given a new context and deeper meaning. 

The album presents the world premiere performance, commissioned by Holy Rosary Church in Midtown Houston. The Joyful Mysteries is sung by the Grammy® award winning Houston Chamber Choir under their Artistic Director Robert Simpson. The recording also features Kinetic Ensemble (“Houston’s Indie, Conductorless Orchestra”) and the Monarch Chamber Players, alongside several outstanding vocal soloists. Boy treble Leonard LLagostera and soprano Gabriella Reyes portray the young Christ and his Mother. Mezzo-soprano Sarah Mesko represents the Angel Gabriel, Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, and later reappears as the Prophetess Anna, when she is joined at The Presentation by bass-baritone Federico de Michelis as the visionary Simeon.
 
Knaggs’ 50–year Ave Maria Project (2005–2054), began with his first notated composition, Ave Maria – Mater Amabilis (2005) and will continue for 50 years, with a new Ave Maria composed each year until 2054. This album presents the Ave Maria (No. 18, ‘Queen of Peace’, 2022) sung in Ukrainian; and No. 19, Ave Maria - Causa Nostra Laetitia, 2023, that speaks to a lasting joy that balances the anguish of No.18.

16 The Joyful Mysteries: V. The Finding in the Temple: Duet: "Son... My Son..."

15 The Joyful Mysteries: IV. The Presentation: Chorus: "O Mary, Your inmost being held joy"

14 The Joyful Mysteries: IV. The Presentation: Aria: "Behold light withholding its rays"

13 The Joyful Mysteries: IV. The Presentation: Chorus and Canticle: "Behold, He descends"

12 The Joyful Mysteries: III. The Nativity: Chorus: "O Virga Mediatrix"

11 The Joyful Mysteries: III. The Nativity: Aria: "Take courage"

10 The Joyful Mysteries: III. The Nativity: Chorus: "Gloria in excelsis Deo"

09 The Joyful Mysteries: III. The Nativity: Solo and Chorus: "Be not afraid"

08 The Joyful Mysteries: III. The Nativity: Pastorale

07 The Joyful Mysteries: II. The Visitation: Chorus: "Your womb held joy"

06 The Joyful Mysteries: II. The Visitation: Solo: "My soul magnifies the Lord"

05 The Joyful Mysteries: II. The Visitation: Solo and Chorus: "Blessed are you"

04 The Joyful Mysteries: I. The Annunciation: Chorus: "This infusion from above"

03 The Joyful Mysteries: I. The Annunciation: Aria: "Be it done unto me"

02 The Joyful Mysteries: I. The Annunciation: Chorus: "Since you have been given joy"

01 The Joyful Mysteries: I. The Annunciation: Solo: "Hail, full of grace"

Trench Carol

Performed by the Renova New Music Ensemble, Boulder, CO
Conducted by Blake Clawson

Poem by Rebecca Brothers
Music by Aric Vyhmeister

Trench Carol is a setting of a poem by Rebecca Brothers, a friend with a gift for words, depicting the events of the famous truce between German and British soldiers on Christmas Eve of 1914 amidst the hostilities of World War I. The poem captures the warmth and humanity shared between sworn enemies during a moment that briefly transcended the relentless violence. The music is intended to evoke a sense of bitter reminiscence, of bleak hopelessness that is slowly warmed over as the soldiers cautiously approach each other and disarm, figuratively and literally, ending on a note of universality as the soldiers finally return home. The story can be heard as being told from either perspective, emphasizing the universality shared across lines in this brief period of peace.

“Trench Carol”
 
Poem by Rebecca Brothers
 
The gath’ring gloom, the smell of guns,
Another night on no man’s front.
No candle lit, no friendly hearth,
No table spread with meat and peace.
Only the cold, the smoke, the groans,
A whispered prayer to stars no one could see.
 
But then a light across the way, 
A single voice, a tune they know.
Then yet more voices joining in,
A ragged patchwork of the song.
From trenches east, and trenches west,
A choir of men who’d sworn
To bring each other to their knees ---
“By Christmas Day, we’ll all be home.”
 
And now the dawn, and now a form
Arising from across the way.
Is this a trap? another trick?
And yet this man is like them all ---
Begrimed and weary, sore and cold,
A man with eyes too timeworn for his face.
 
A cake he’s bearing, and a smile,
And so another man ascends.
Then more and more, with gifts to share,
For men they might have once called friends.
From trenches east, and trenches west,
A corps of men who’d sworn
To bring each other to their knees ---
“By Christmas Day, we’ll all be home.”
 
With three more Christmases, they find
That most are home, or lame, or blind.
The fight they thought would soon be o’er
Has carried on far past their power.
The peace they found that Christmas night
Now seems to be nowhere in sight.
 
One hundred Christmases ago,
The men remembered who they served.
No greater captain had they then
Than every brother in the world.
In trenches east, and trenches west,
A choir of men who’d sworn
To bring each other to their knees ---
It’s Christmas Day, and now they’re home.

Trench Carol (Aric Vyhmeister)

Prepare to be captivated by the raw power and emotional intensity of “Into The Light,” the latest epic trailer song by Epikton featuring the extraordinary vocal talents of Elena Tabonainen. This track is a masterful journey from despair to hope, blending haunting melodies with explosive orchestral arrangements and modern trailer sound design.

Elena’s soul-stirring vocals pierce through the darkness, guiding listeners on an empowering odyssey of resilience and triumph. The fusion of dynamic strings, thunderous percussion, and cinematic synths creates a soundscape that is as evocative as it is monumental.

Into The Light (ft. Elena Tabonainen)

Independent Classical from Acis

emerging talent  |  award-winning artists  |  mindful design

Epikton’s core value is to help passionate film creators reach their ultimate artistic potential through his music, which creates a high-value cinematic experience by approaching the key points of music-making in innovative ways. As a composer, Epikton understands the pivotal role that music plays in enhancing the storytelling process and taking audiences on a transformative journey.

Epikton’s approach to music-making is characterized by his unwavering commitment to originality and creativity. He constantly seeks new ways to create soundscapes that captivate and engage his listeners, carefully crafting each note and melody to convey the emotional depth of the story being told.

If you are a passionate film creator looking to elevate your projects to new heights, Epikton’s music is sure to leave a lasting impact on your audience. With his innovative approach to music-making, Epikton delivers a cinematic experience that is truly unique and unforgettable. Partner with Epikton today to experience the power of his music and take your projects to the next level.

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