| Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's | 1 piece |
|---|---|
| Composition Year | 1983 ca. |
| Genre Categories | Sacred songs; Religious works; Songs; |
Contents |
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| Work Title | A Prayer for Contralto, Viola and Piano |
|---|---|
| Alternative. Title | |
| Composer | Sydeman, William Jay |
| I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. | IWS 26 |
| Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's | 1 piece |
| Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. | 1983 ca. |
| Librettist | Composer |
| Language | English |
| Average DurationAvg. Duration | 4 minutes |
| Composer Time PeriodComp. Period | Modern |
| Piece Style | Modern |
| Instrumentation | contralto (or oboe or violin), viola, piano |
A Prayer for contralto, viola and piano was written in the early eighties while I was teaching at the Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA. I wrote the text, which is quietly inward looking and meditative, reflective of the life of spirit which is at the foundation of all of Steiner’s teaching. Nevertheless there is a middle section in which the viola becomes quite ecstatic before returning to its original quieter state. For the most part voice and viola are in contrapuntal relationship to each other, with the piano creating romantic flowing textures around both. Although the text clearly outlines these states of being, it is obviously intrinsic to the instrumental version as well.
A word about the text: Although it speaks a creator God and Christ being, this is not intended to refer to our traditional organized religions, but rather to that which dwells within us as a spark of that creativity.
– W. Jay Sydeman
