componist
Bernard van Beurden was born in Amsterdam on the 5th of December, 1933. He started playing the violin when he was 8 years old and at the age of 11 ...
gerelateerde werken
Tout à coup(e) mondiale : pour accordéon seule, 1986 / Bernard van Beurden
Genre:
Kamermuziek
Subgenre:
Accordeon
Bezetting:
acc
Keats I : for high voice and chamber orchestra, 1997 / on words by John Keats, Maarten Altena
Genre:
Vocaal
Subgenre:
Zangstem en groot ensemble
Bezetting:
high 2222 2220 2perc pf vl 2vla 2cb
Genre:
Vocaal
Subgenre:
Zangstem en groot ensemble
Bezetting:
sopr-m fl(pi,fl-a) ob cl sax 2h 2trb 2perc hp pf(synth, glock) 2vl 2vla 2vc
A crossing place : for mezzo-soprano and instrumental ensemble, 1989 / Frank de Munnik
Genre:
Vocaal
Subgenre:
Zangstem en groot ensemble
Bezetting:
sopr-m 1121 1110 perc hp pf vl vla vc cb
compositie
La messe : for solo mezzo-soprano, accordion and cello and large wind orchestra, 1988 / text by Paul Verlaine, Bernard van Beurden
Overige auteurs:
Verlaine, Paul
(tekstdichter/librettist)
Toelichting:
Program note (English): As a child I sang for several years in the Roman Catholic church choir. First in the boys' choir and later, after my voice changed, in among the men. We sang Gregorian plainsong, music I adored at the time. And still do. It was not only the music that enchanted me, but the ritual as well. The candlelight, the acts performed, the entire setting, and especially the theatrical event of the procession. I enjoyed it with all my heart and time and time again, it was a grand experience for me to be able to make my vocal contribution.
But one thing already bothered me at the time and I wanted no part of it: religious faith itself, particularly the way it was more or less forced upon me. It was not an option, it was an absolute must, and I had to sing to boot.
It is precisely this conflict that La Messe is about. Perhaps, one might say, about the memory and the re-arousal of this conflict.
The parts of the Roman Catholic Mass have been maintained: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei.
As lyrics I chose the free, poetic translation by the French poet Paul Verlaine. The life Paul Verlaine led was an extremely turbulent one, and that is putting it mildly. During short periods of tranquility and repentance, he would write poetry of great beauty and piety. This is why I selected his translation to replace the fine Latin and Gregorian.
The three soloists, soprano, 'cello and accordion, stand as the three celebrants of the Roman Catholic Mass before the populace, the orchestra. The music moves between moments of quietude, sudden outbursts of rage, the pious church song and hymnal waves.
Kyrie calls for compassion, Gloria rejoices, Credo believes (be it with the necessary sarcasm Je crois!!!!! ), Sanctus begins reticently but then blares a threefold Hosanna and lastly Agnus Dei calls out for peace. Which is not a bad thing nowadays.- BERNARD VAN BEURDEN