A House in Heaven
SATB/trebles choral/piano score
PEL2026 -Choir and Piano
Full score and instrumental parts for flute and organ
PEL2026-FS/IP
A WORK FOR SATB AND TREBLE CHOIRS WITH PIANO, ORGAN, AND FLUTE
"A House In Heaven" derives its title from the words of eight-year old James Birrell, to whom the work is dedicated, who, nearing the end of his battle with the terminal illness neuroblastoma, declared with the innocent wisdom and faith of a child, "Jesus is building me a house in Heaven." This work combines SATB choir with children's choir and treble solo (singing James' words) with accompaniment provided by piano, organ and flute. Texts include Psalm 8, M. Babcock's 'This Is My Father's World', and poetry by English clergyman and author Henry Charles Beeching and Canadian poet Bliss Carman. The setting is broad, beautiful and poignant, a gorgeous piece to touch and inspire, evoking a profound joy in life and the wonders of creation. Elegantly combines the voices of adult choir and children's choir.
Dedication: "Commissioned by the Peterborough Singers for James Birrell, a boy who showed us we could sing when we thought we could only cry. February 24, 2001"
James Birrell was the son of Peterborough Singers Music Director Syd Birrell. Nine months after the premiere performance of this work, eight-year old James Birrell died of neuroblastoma.
Texts
A House in Heaven
O Lord our Governor, how exalted is your name in all the world!
From the lips of children you have ordained praise.
Psalm 8:1 and 2
This is my Father’s world;
And to my listening ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world;
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world;
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world;
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world;
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world;
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring.
God reigns; let the earth be glad.
Maltbie D. Babcock
God who created me
Nimble and light of limb,
In three elements free,
To run, to ride, to swim:
Not when the sense is dim,
But now from the heart of joy,
I would remember Him:
Take the thanks of a boy.
Henry Charles Beeching
Jesus is building me a house in heaven.
James Birrell
I took a day to search for God,
And found Him not. But as I trod
By rocky ledge, through woods untamed,
Just where one scarlet lily flamed,
I saw His footprint in the sod.
Then suddenly, all unaware,
Far off in the deep shadows, where
A solitary hermit thrush
Sang through the holy twilight hush –
I heard His voice upon the air.
And even as I marvelled how
God gives us Heaven here and now
In a stir of wind that hardly shook
The poplar leaves beside the brook -
His hand was light upon my brow.
Back to the world with quickening start
I looked and longed for any part
In making saving Beauty be …
And from that kindling ecstasy
I knew God dwelt within my heart.
Bliss Carman
Reviews
A WORD FROM THE PETERBOROUGH SINGERS:
"This isn’t the Singers’ first commissioned work, but it will probably be their favourite, and, we hope, most far-reaching. The source for the title and a recurring lyric is James Birrell himself. In 1999, lying in great pain and unable to move, he whispered to his mother, "I know Jesus is building me a house in heaven." The touching faith of these words continued to resonate as James improved. James’ many high points of energy, playfulness and purpose since then have served to make his words sound even sweeter.
So, when it came time to decide what to ask of composer Paul Halley, there was no hesitation from the Birrells or the choir board: "Make us a picture of James Birrell in song."
To James’ words, Halley added the familiar childhood hymn "This Is My Father’s World" and two nineteenth-century poems: one by Canadian Bliss Carman, the other by Englishman Henry Charles Beeching. The story these texts tell together is of faith in God; of Nature’s vibrant testimony, and of a child’s readiness to experience joy. Musically, the piece plays adult and children’s choruses against each other and then weaves them together with flute, piano and organ into something both touching and triumphant. One of the most emotional points comes in the middle of the piece, when James’ words are sung by a lone boy soprano.
The Peterborough Singers could not have managed such a high-quality commission without the graciousness of composer Paul Halley and Pelagos, and the financial support of Discus Dental Canada and the Peterborough and District Dental Association. The latter underwrote the cost of the commission, and the former waived their recording royalty so that a special single-track CD can be sold to the public.
We are also moved by the kindness of Actor Tom Hanks, who has supported our fight against Neuroblastoma. As well as corresponding with the Birrell family, and endorsing the House in Heaven CD, Mr. Hanks has personally autographed a limited number of CD's which are currently for sale for $100. All proceeds go to the James Birrell Fund for Neuroblastoma and income tax receipts will be issued for each autographed CD purchased."
ABOUT JAMES BIRRELL:
James Birrell, just six years old, lay close to death. He was suffering from a rare childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. As he lay in great pain, unable to move, he whispered to his mother the words “Jesus is building me a house in heaven”. James died in December of 2001, but research into better treatments for this disease continue through The James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Fund whose Honorary Patron is actor Tom Hanks. Visit www.JamesBirrell.ca for more information. A CD recording of the premiere performance of ‘A House In Heaven’ is available from www.PeterboroughSingers.com All proceeds from the sale of this CD benefit The James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Fund.
