Kyrie, Bitte Bei der grossen Schuld
SATB choral/piano score
PEL2017 -Choir and Piano
Full score and instrumental parts
PEL2017 -FS/IP
A WORK FOR SATB CHOIR AND PIANO WITH OPTIONAL FLUTE, CLARINET (OR OBOE), ORGAN, BASS, AND PERCUSSION
Music by J.S. Bach and Paul Halley
An innovative, jazz-inspired choral arrangement of the solo melody from Bach's work, BWV 115 "Mache Dich, Mein Geist Bereit", set within a contemporary context of modern instruments and rhythms, with additional melodies and harmonies by Paul Halley. Bach in his Brazilian period.
Commissioned by Corale San Jacopo, Massimo Bracci, director.
Premiere December 2007, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence
Texts
Kyrie, Bitte Bei der grossen Schuld
O Lord, have mercy upon us,
according to thy love,
and do away with my offences, Lord,
according to the multitude of thy mercies.
– Psalm 51:1
Kyrie, Kyrie.
Translation: O Lord, O Lord.
Bitte bei der großen Schuld
Deinen Richter um Geduld,
Soll er dich von Sünden frei
Und gereinigt machen!
Translation:
Beseech, for your great guilt,
mercy from your Judge,
that He make you free from sin
and purify you!
– Johann Burchard Freystein (1671-1718)
Reviews
Commissioned by Corale San Jacopo, Massimo Bracci, director.
Premiere December 2007, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence
In the words of Signor Bracci as he outlined in English his vision for the commission project:
"Regarding the melody from BWV 115 "Mache Dich, Mein Geist Bereit", we want a free interpretation of it for choir. I am a great fan of Paul Halley because he can merge classical and modern elements in a single fantastic matrimony. A beautiful example is “Come Away to the Sky”. That is, we want a free, modern interpretation for choir of this longing song; he can use also jazzistic elements. Paul Halley is free to arrange how he feels it naturally, with a view to the conformation of my choir. This could be a start of an advantageous collaboration with a European choir. We have an important concert of December 2007 in a most famous theater of Tuscany 'Teatro del Maggio Musicale Florentino' in Florence and we could perform this work in preview in Italy. It could be an important event to know the music of Paul Halley in Italy."
