Click the times below for the different movements 1. Introduction 0:18 2. In the Deeps 3:29 3. The Four Ages Of Man 7:55 4. Shall my Prayer Prevent Thee? 11:05 5. Bêtise de la Guerre 12:55 6. No man is an island 17:45 7. Ode a la joie 23:02 8. Unity 26:18 https://philipomeara.com/ Commissioned by the Hastings Philharmonic to open their 2016/17 season at White Rock Theatre Hastings Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra Tenor: Leonel Pinheiro http://www.leonelpinheiro.com/ Soprano: Claire Egan http://www.claireegan.com/ No Man is a journey, from the "No Man's Land" of war to the "No Man is an Island" message of peace and unity in a year and country where telling this story seems more prescient than ever as division looms over our nation. In the anniversary year of the Battle of Hastings and the infamous bloodbath at the Somme, we are reminded of how fleeting and fragile our periods of peace have been and will be, how old violent habits of post-agricultural civilisation will continue for as long as civilisation survives. Drawing on texts in English, French and Latin by W. B. Yeats, Victor Hugo, John Donne, the Psalms of the Bible and Friedrich Schiller; No Man an Ode to Joy for the modern age using as its basis ancient Gregorian plainsong braided with a reforming of Beethoven's famous theme into a sort of neo-pastiche, all told through the lens of the centuries of war, peace and artistic expression since then. It is set over seven movements for two choirs (French and English, with texts in Latin for both), orchestra and soprano and tenor soloists. Full texts: 1. Introduction (instrumental and spoken) 2. Psalm 88 (excerpt) Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. Numquid mortuis facies mirabilia aut medici suscitabunt et confitebuntur tibi Numquid narrabit aliquis in sepulchro misericordiam tuam et veritatem tuam in per ditione 3. The Four Ages of Man - William Butler Yeats He with body waged a fight, But body won; it walks upright. Then he struggled with the heart; Innocence and peace depart. Then he struggled with the mind; His proud heart he left behind. Now his wars on God begin; At stroke of midnight God shall win. 4. Shall my Prayer Prevent Thee? (instrumental) 5. Bêtise de la guerre - Victor Hugo Ouvrière sans yeux, Pénélope imbécile, Berceuse du chaos où le néant oscille, Guerre, ô guerre occupée au choc des escadrons, Toute pleine du bruit furieux des clairons, Ô buveuse de sang, qui, farouche, flétrie, Hideuse, entraîne l’homme en cette ivrognerie, Nuée où le destin se déforme, où Dieu fuit, Où flotte une clarté plus noire que la nuit, Folle immense, de vent et de foudres armée, A quoi sers-tu, géante, à quoi sers-tu, fumée, Si tes écroulements reconstruisent le mal, Si pour le bestial tu chasses l’animal, Si tu ne sais, dans l’ombre où ton hasard se vautre, Défaire un empereur que pour en faire un autre? 6. No Man is an Island - John Donne No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friend's Or of thine own were: Any man's death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind, And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee 7. Ode to Joy - Friedrich Schiller (excerpt) Joie ! Joie ! Belle étincelle divine, Fille de l’Elysée, Nous entrons l'âme enivrée Dans ton temple glorieux. Ton magique attrait resserre Ce que la mode en vain détruit ; Tous les hommes deviennent frères Où ton aile nous conduit. Si le sort comblant ton âme, D'un ami t'a fait l'ami, Si tu as conquis l’amour d’une noble femme, Mêle ton exultation à la nôtre! Viens, même si tu n'aimas qu'une heure Qu'un seul être sous les cieux ! Joy, bright spark of divinity, Daughter of Elysium, Fire-inspired we tread Thy sanctuary. Thy magic power re-unites All that custom e’er divides, All men become brothers Under the sway of thy gentle wings. Whoever has created An abiding friendship, Or has won A true and loving wife, All who can call at least one soul theirs, Join in our song of praise: 8. Psalm 133 (excerpt) O what a joyful thing to see when Brethren dwell together in unity! Oh! Quel plaisir c'est, pour des frères, Et quel bonheur que d'être ensemble!

• published: 18 Nov 2016
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