"The Place of Understanding" [Nico Muhly]

"The Place of Understanding" [Nico Muhly]

First line of lyrics: Oh why is heaven built so far

Muhly, Nico; music (American, born 1981)

Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)

Unknown; text (biblical text)

2006 [publication] [copyright]

St. Rose Music Publishing

genre: song|art song (lied)

solo: tenor

instrumentation: organ

initial sharps/flats: no sharps or flats

initial time signature: 3/4

origin: United States

male composer

English

Rossetti poem(s): "De Profundis"

Work contains texts by multiple authors

Notes about the text: This work also includes an excerpt from the Book of Job (Job 28: 20-28).

Composition history: "Commissioned by the Hanson Institute for American Music of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester." The composer's note reads: "The Place of Understanding is, at its heart, an organ solo piece with tenor commentary. While the traditional structures of art songs occasionally apply, the piece attempts to feature the organ as an equal partner in treating and bridging the two wildly different texts. While the first part is episodic, romantic, and rushes from one tonal center to the next, the second part (with the words taken from the Book of Job) is stiller, and allows the organist to create a delicate texture on top of which the tenor slowly and deliberately articulates the biblical text."

Tempo markings: "Forceful"; quarter note = 96

Performance history: "The first performance was given by Oliver Brewer, tenor, and Christian Lane, organ, on 14 May 2006 at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City."

Dedication: "for Christian Lane"

Format 1: musical score

7 pages; performance time 13 minutes

Other data reference(s): "The Place of Understanding (2006)." Wise Music Classical, https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/45857/. Accessed 24 March 2020.

Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa

This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "The Place of Understanding (2006)." Wise Music Classical, https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/45857/. Accessed 24 March 2020.

Record: CRM-deprofundis-conte

"Copyright © 2006 St. Rose Music Publishing Co. and Chester Music Limited."

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