A HOUSE
FOR CHAMBER CHOIR SATB SCORE
© 2016 by Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP) International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. RNY 1002 ISMN 979-0-041-61002-3
Warning : Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law, and subject to criminal prosecution.
note
a house was commissioned by Northwestern University, to honor the opening of their new music building, the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts. This is a big responsibility for a piece of music, and I started thinking about my piece as a kind of benediction, and as a wish for the future, for all the good work that could now happen within this new environment.
I remembered the proverb: Through wisdom is a house built, and by understanding it is established; And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches. That seemed very appropriate for the opening of a new building at a university, since, ideally, the ‘precious and pleasant riches’ with which the chambers would be filled would be knowledge itself.
I wondered if I could mirror in my piece the building of a building, if I could lay out my bricks and my mortar, and then painstakingly assemble them into chambers, filled with riches. I found nineteen different translations of the proverb, each slightly different. I separated out only the individual words necessary to be able to create all nineteen versions and I arranged them alphabetically – these are the bricks of my building. I then divided each of the nineteen versions into their smaller phrases , arranging them alphabetically as well. Of course, the goal of education is wisdom. Luckily for me, and thanks to the alphabet, it is the goal of my text, as well.
CopyrightbyRicordiNewYork
a house was commissioned by Northwestern University, Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music, and was premiered by the Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble, Donald Nally, Director, Sunday April 17, 2016, Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, Ryan Center for the Musical Arts.
the duration of a house is about 18 minutes.
a house
words and music by david lang (after proverbs)
a all an and are be beautiful becomes both builded built by chambers delight entirely established establisheth every expensive filled furnished good goods
a house is built and becomes strong and by knowledge and by prudence and by understanding and it is established and the inner chambers are filled and through understanding and with intelligence are the chambers filled by instruction by knowledge by understanding by wisdom is a house builded is a house built is an house builded is an house built it establisheth itself it is entirely put in good order it is established it is made secure it shall be established it shall be strengthened its rooms are filled its rooms are furnished shall the chambers be filled the house shall be built the inner parts are filled the rooms are filled the storerooms shall be filled
honor house in inner instruction intelligence is it its itself kind kinds knowledge made most of order parts pleasant pleasing possession precious prudence
put rare riches rooms secure sense shall sorts storerooms strengthened strong substance the through treasure treasures understanding valuables wealth wisdom with
CopyrightbyRicordiNewYork
through good sense through knowledge through understanding through wisdom
with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures with all precious and beautiful riches with all precious and most beautiful wealth with all precious and pleasant riches with all precious and pleasant substance with all precious and pleasant wealth with all rare and beautiful treasure with all sorts of expensive and beautiful goods with all sorts of precious riches and valuables with every kind of riches, both precious and pleasant with every possession, honor and delight with every precious and beautiful treasure with knowledge with rare and beautiful treasures with understanding with wisdom
a house for Northwestern University
soprano and alto - very light articulation
keep tenor line flowing and intact; singers, breathe and reenter at will
optional - one man may speak the words, in a low monotone, along with the bass part, until measure 200