Nick to perform at Music in the Abbey Festival

xantha

Nick will be performing with the Orchestra of St. John's and soprano Sally Matthews as part of the Music in the Abbey Festival.

Details:
Sunday 14 September 2008 at 7.30pm
Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester , Oxon

Programme:
Wesley & Stanford Motets
R Strauss Four Last Songs
Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem

John Lubbock (conductor)
Sally Matthews (soprano), Nicholas Garrett (bass)
Orchestra of St John's, OSJ Voices

Ticket Prices: range from £12 - 25.00
To book online CLICK HERE

From the website....
"To end the festival, we are delighted to welcome back Sally Matthews, whose performances have been unmissable over the last few years. Sally will perform Richard Strauss’s swansong, Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) and will be joined by another Music in the Abbey favourite, Nicholas Garrett for Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem). An unmissable evening, which is bound to be a sell-out event."

Thanks for the information Novice

xaria · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:42 pm Post subject:

Excellent! Smile

Will have to try and get to that. I did Brahm's German Requiem in my first yr so it'll be intersting to hear a professional performance of it. x

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 556

Xaria, hope you do get to go, I will sit here and envy you!

Listening to Nick gives me shivers down my spine without the Church, what would it feel like to hear that!?

See you soon!!

Connie · Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 372

I would love to be able to go to this performance, but then again I want to go to every performance that Nick is a part of. Very Happy

xantha · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject:

I know that Nick always encourages his Garrett Girls to research the opera / music they are going to see performed to get a deeper appreciation of the music. With this in mind, here's a few details of a piece that will be performed at the Music in the Abbey Festival at Dorchester Cathedral.

The Four Last Songs (Vier letzte Lieder) for soprano and orchestra were the final works of Richard Strauss, composed in 1948 when the composer was 84. The premiere was given in London on 22 May 1950, featuring soprano Kirsten Flagstad accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler. Strauss did not live to hear it.

Background

Strauss had come across the poem Im Abendrot (At Sunset) by Joseph Eichendorff, which he felt had a special meaning for him. He set its text to music in May of 1948. Strauss had also recently been given a copy of the complete poems of Hermann Hesse, and he arranged three of his works – Frühling (Spring), September, and Beim Schlafengehen (Going to Sleep) – for soprano and orchestra. (According to Arnold, a fifth song was unfinished at Strauss' death.)

There is no indication that Strauss conceived these songs as a complete set. In dictionaries published as late as 1954, the three Hesse songs were still listed as a group, separate from the earlier Eichendorff song setting. The overall title Four Last Songs was provided by his friend Ernst Roth, the chief editor of Boosey and Hawkes. It was Roth who categorized them as a single unit and put them into the order that most performances now follow: Frühling, September, Beim Schlafengehen, Im Abendrot.

Subject matter
The songs deal with death and were written shortly before Strauss himself died. However, instead of the typical Romantic defiance, these Four Last Songs are suffused with a sense of calm, acceptance, and completeness.

The settings are for a solo soprano voice given remarkable soaring melodies against a full orchestra and all four songs have prominent horn parts. The juxaposition of the achingly beautiful vocal line with the respectfully supportive brass accompaniment has clear references to Strauss's own life: His wife was a famous soprano and his father a professional horn player.

Text

1. "Frühling"
In dämmrigen Grüften
träumte ich lang
von deinen Bäumen und blauen Lüften,
Von deinem Duft und Vogelsang.

Nun liegst du erschlossen
In Gleiß und Zier
Von Licht übergossen
Wie ein Wunder vor mir.

Du kennst mich wieder,
du lockst mich zart,
es zittert durch all meine Glieder
deine selige Gegenwart!

(English)
In dusky valleys
I dreamt long
of your trees and blue skies,
of your scent and birdsong.

Now you appear
in all your finery,
shining brilliantly
like a miracle before me.

You recognize me once more,
you tenderly embrace me;
all my limbs tremble at
your glorious presence!

Composed: July 20, 1948

2. "September"
Der Garten trauert,
kühl sinkt in die Blumen der Regen.
Der Sommer schauert
still seinem Ende entgegen.

Golden tropft Blatt um Blatt
nieder vom hohen Akazienbaum.
Sommer lächelt erstaunt und matt
In den sterbenden Gartentraum.

Lange noch bei den Rosen
bleibt er stehn, sehnt sich nach Ruh.
Langsam tut er
die müdgeword'nen Augen zu.

(English)
The garden is in mourning;
the cool rain seeps into the flowers.
Summertime shudders,
quietly awaiting his end.

Golden leaf after leaf falls
down from the tall acacia tree.
Summer smiles, astonished and feeble,
in his dying dream of a garden.

For a while beside the roses
he remains, yearning for repose.
Slowly he closes
his weary eyes.
Composed: September 20, 1948

3. "Beim Schlafengehen"
Nun der Tag mich müd' gemacht,
soll mein sehnliches Verlangen
freundlich die gestirnte Nacht
wie ein müdes Kind empfangen.

Hände, laßt von allem Tun,
Stirn, vergiß du alles Denken,
alle meine Sinne nun
wollen sich in Schlummer senken.

Und die Seele unbewacht,
will in freien Flügen schweben,
um im Zauberkreis der Nacht
tief und tausendfach zu leben.

(English)
Now I am wearied of the day;
all my ardent desires shall
gladly succumb to the starry night
like a sleepy child.

Hands, stop all your work;
brow, forget all your thoughts;
all my being now
yearns to sink into sleep.

And my unguided spirit
wishes to fly up freely
into night's magic sphere
to live deeply and thousandfold.

Composed: August 4, 1948

4. "Im Abendrot"
Wir sind durch Not und Freude
gegangen Hand in Hand;
vom Wandern ruhen wir
nun überm stillen Land.

Rings sich die Täler neigen,
es dunkelt schon die Luft,
zwei Lerchen nur noch steigen
nachträumend in den Duft.

Tritt her und laß sie schwirren,
bald ist es Schlafenszeit,
daß wir uns nicht verirren
In dieser Einsamkeit.

O weiter, stiller Friede!
So tief im Abendrot.
Wie sind wir wandermüde--
Ist dies etwa der Tod?

(English)
We have gone through sorrow and joy
hand in hand;
now let us rest from our wanderings
above the silent land.

Around us, the valleys bend downwards;
the sky is turning darker;
a solitary pair of larks still soar
with reverie into the fragrant air.

Come close to me and let them fly about;
soon it will be time to sleep;
let us not lose our way
in this solitude.

O vast, tranquil peace!
so deep at sunset.
How weary we are of wandering -
Is this perhaps death?

Composed: May 6, 1948

Notes
Towards the end of Im Abendrot, Strauss musically quotes his own tone poem Death and Transfiguration, written 60 years earlier. As in that piece, the quoted theme symbolizes the fulfillment of the soul in death.

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 556

Thanks xantha, it's really good to see the background on these.

Connie · Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 372

Beautiful poems, thanks Xantha for the interesting background history. Smile

xantha · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 8:45 am Post subject:

Looking forward to the concert tomorrow and hoping to see a few of you there too! Smile

xaria · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

Have fun! Wish I was there Sad

but it can't be helped. Say hi to him for me, and enjoy it Smile

x

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 556

Enjoy and I am looking forward to reading about it!

xantha · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:35 am Post subject:

This has to be one of the best concerts I have ever been to - and not just because of Nick.
The Abbey was beautiful and had the most amazing acoustics which really lent themselves to the type of music being sung.The Orchestra of St.Johns and their choir were absolutely oustanding - words cannot describe the wonderful sound they made.
Nick gave a superb performance of Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem. His voice was on top form and sounded incredible accompanied by choir and orchestra. The atmosphere inside the abbey was something else too. After each piece finished there was quite a pause before the applause started. At first I wondered if it was because people weren't sure the movement had finished,but I think most people were just sat open mouthed, in awe at what they had just heard.
I had the chance to speak to Nick briefly before and after the performance and it was wonderful to get his opinion on it. He had sat though the concert totally absorbed in the music and you could see from his facial expressions how much he had enjoyed it. It was lovely to see members of the audience come up afterwards and thank him for a wonderful performance too. He takes the compliments very graciously but it must be quite pleasing to know that your music has touched someone. He did get rather embarressed at being called "well fit" but in typical Nick humour said that the girl was welcome at any of his future concerts! Smile

xantha · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:06 am Post subject:

Ein deutsches Requiem.

(notes from the programme)
The idea for Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem date back to the death of his friend and mentor, Robert Schumann in the mid 1850's. Work on the piece was slow until the detah of Brahms' mother in 1865, at which point he completed the work, which originally had only six movements, fairly quickly. The additional movement (the fifth, and the only one to feature a solo woman's voice) was written in 1868 and dedicated to the memory of his mother.
The first performance of the full, seven-movement work was given in Leipzig the following year to a cool reception;though there were twenty further performances in the same year in most major German cities. It was first performed privately in London in 1871, for which Brahms arranged the orchestral score for piano duet, insisting it should be sung in the language of the audience. However, at its first public performance at St James' Hall, London in 1873, the work was performed in German, and these days is rarely performed in anything other than its 'original language'. Despite the cool reception at its first performance, the Requiem is now regarded as one of Brahms' masterpieces. Perhaps its popoularity can be explained in the universality that Brahms intended for it, for the way it speaks to all of us who have grieved.

Text with English Translation - the parts sung by Nick are in bold.

1.
Selig sind, die da Leid tragen, denn sie sollen getröstet werden.
Die mit Tränen säen, werden mit Freuden ernten.
Sie gehen hin und weinen und tragen edlen Samen, und kommen mit Freuden und bringen ihre Garben

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
They that go forth and weep, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.

2.
Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras und alle Herrlichkeit des Menschen wie des Grases Blumen. Das Gras ist verdorret und die Blume abgefallen.
So seid nun geduldig, lieben Brüder, bis auf die Zukunft des Herrn. Siehe, ein Ackermann wartet auf die köstliche Frucht der Erde und ist geduldig darüber, bis er empfahe den Morgenregen und Abendregen.
Aber des Herrn wort bleibet in Ewigkeit.
Die Erlöseten des Herrn werden wieder kommen und gen Zion kommen mit Jauchzen; ewige Freude wird über ihrem Haupte sein; Freude und Wonne werden sie ergreifen und Schmerz und Seufzen wird weg müssen.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falleth away.
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the morning and evening rain.
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

3.
Herr, lehre doch mich, daß ein Ende mit mir haben muß, und mein Leben ein Ziel hat, und ich davon muß.
Siehe, meine Tage sind einer Hand breit vor dir, und mein Leben ist wie nichts vor dir.
Ach wie gar nichts sind alle Menschen, die doch so sicher leben. Sie gehen daher wie ein Schemen, und machen ihnen viel vergebliche Unruhe; sie sammeln und wissen nicht wer es kriegen wird. Nun Herr, wess soll ich mich trösten? Ich hoffe auf dich.
Der Gerechten Seelen sind in Gottes Hand und keine Qual rühret sie an.

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.
Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee.
Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them.
And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God and there shall no torment touch them.

4.
Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, Herr Zebaoth!
Meine Seele verlanget und sehnet sich nach den Vorhöfen des Herrn; mein Leib und Seele freuen sich in dem lebendigen Gott.
Wohl denen, die in deinem Hause wohnen, die loben dich immerdar.

How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh cries out for the living God.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will always be praising thee.

5.
Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit; aber ich will euch wieder sehen und euer Herz soll sich freuen und eure Freude soll niemand von euch nehmen.
Sehet mich an: Ich habe eine kleine Zeit Mühe und Arbeit gehabt und habe großen Trost funden.
Ich will euch trösten, wie Einen seine Mutter tröstet.

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.
As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you.

6.
Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt, sondern die zukünftige suchen wir.
Siehe, ich sage euch Geheimnis: Wir werden nicht alle entschlafen, wir werden aber all verwandelt werden; und dasselbige plötzlich, in einem Augenblick, zu der Zeit der letzen Posaune. Denn es wird die posaune schallen, und die Toten werden auferstehen unverweslich, und wir werden verwandelt werden. Dann wird erfüllet werden das Wort, das geschrieben steht: Der Tod ist verschlungen in den Sieg. Tod, wo ist dein Stachel? Hölle, wo ist dein Sieg?
Herr, du bist würdig zu nehmen Preis und Ehre und Kraft, denn du hast alle Dinge geschaffen, und durch deinen Willen haben sie das Wesen und sind geschaffen.

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

7.
Selig sind die Toten, die in dem Herrn sterben, von nun an. Ja der Geist spricht, daß sie ruhen von ihrer Arbeit; denn ihre Werke folgen ihnen nach.

Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord, from henceforth. Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 556

Thank you for the update and listing the requiem.
Sounds like it was heavenly!

xaria · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject:

'Well fit!' lol Smile

Aww bless him.
Glad you enjoyed the concert. Wish I'd been there Sad

Brahms Requiem is an extremely moving piece of work. x