Turtle Creek Chorale 

LINER NOTES

Requiem

INTRODUCTORY NOTES

John Rutter's Introduction

Choral music has formed an important and cherished part of my life, both as a composer and conductor, and it gives me enormous pleasure to welcome this recording that gathers several of my smaller sacred choral pieces together with my Requiem, a work of special personal significance to me. I had the good fortune to hear the Turtle Creek Chorale and the Dallas Women's Chorus in 1993, and was instantly impressed and emotionally moved. I could not be more delighted that these two wonderful choirs have joined forces for a recording I know I will treasure.

The Requiem was written in 1985 and dedicated to the memory of my father, who had died the previous year. In writing it, I was influenced and inspired by the example of Fauré. I doubt whether any specific musical resemblances can be traced, but I am sure that Fauré's Requiem crystallized my thoughts about the kind of Requiem I wanted to write: intimate rather than grandiose, contemplative and lyric rather than dramatic, and ultimately moving towards light rather than darkness -- the "lux aeterna" of the losing text.

The composition of the Requiem was interrupted by other commitments and by illness. The first complete performance took place in October 1985 (in Dallas, as it happened), and no one, least of all the astonished composer, could have predicted the flood of performances which followed and which has continued ever since. For me it stands as a clear sign of humanity's quest for solace and light amidst the darkness and troubles of our age. Art, Andre Gide said, must bear a message of hope -- a message which is embedded in the age-old texts of the Requiem Mass, and also in the Burial Service, some of which I have interpolated into the structure of the work, using the incomparably resonant and glorious version from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

The shorter pieces to be heard on this recording owe their origins to practical circumstances: commissions from churches and choral organizations, requests from friends, or, in the case of A Gaelic Blessing, a parting gift for a much-loved choir director. Choosing their texts was always a particular care and delight: who could fail to be stirred by the familiar words of Psalm 121 or the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi? And, at the same time, how especially rewarding it is to find a lovely and virtually unknown text such as that of A Gaelic Blessing and set it to music for the first time. I remember being especially touched by the text of The Lord if my light and my salvation; this was given to me by an old friend who knew his days to be numbered as a result of AIDS. He told me of the strength and inspiration he drew from the words of this psalm, and expressed a wish that I might set it to music, for performance at his memorial service. For him, and for me, there was nothing morbid or depressing about this request; I was happy to write the piece and felt more closely drawn towards the reality of AIDS as a result.

-- John Rutter

REPERTOIRE

Praise Ye the Lord (1:58)
Psalm 150 with antiphon

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His holiness: praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him in His noble acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him in the sound of the trumpet: praise Him upon the lute and harp. Praise Him in the cymbals and dances: praise Him upon the strings and pipe. Praise Him upon the well-tuned cymbals: praise Him upon the loud cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.

The Lord is My Light and My Salvation (9:31)
from Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid: and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in Him. One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require: even that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His tabernacle: yea, in the secret place of His dwelling shall He hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone. Therefore will I offer in His dwelling an oblation with great gladness. I will sing, and speak praises unto the Lord. Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto Thee: have mercy upon me, and hear me. My heart hath talked of Thee, seek Ye my face: Thy face, Lord, will I seek. O hide not Thou Thy face from me, nor cast Thy servant away in displeasure. Thou hast been my successor: leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord taketh me up. Be strong, and He shall comfort thine heart; and put thou thy trust in the Lord.

All Things Bright and Beautiful (2:51)
words by Mrs. C. F. Alexander (1823-95)

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings. The purple-headed mountain, the river running by, The sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky; The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one. He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell, How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well.

Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace (3:05)
words by St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring love; where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy; and all for thy mercy's sake. O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

REQUIEM (38:16)
English Translations by John Rutter

Requiem Aeternum (6:17)
Missa pro defunctic

Requiem aeternum dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus, Deus in Sion: et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Exaudi orationem meam, ad te omnis caro veniet. Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Grant them rest eternal, Lord our God, we pray to Thee: and light perpetual shine on them for ever. Thou Lord, art worshipped in Sion; Thy praises shall ever be sung in all Jerusalem. O hear us: O Lord, hear thy faithful servants' prayer; to Thee shall all mortal flesh return.

Out of the Deep (6:33)
Psalm 130

Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. O let Thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. If Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? For there is mercy with Thee: therefore shalt Thou be feared. I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for Him: in His word is my trust. My soul fleeth unto the Lord; before the morning watch, I say, before the morning watch. O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy: and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all His sins.

Pie Jesu From "Dies Irae" (3:49)
Missa pro defunctis

Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Pie Jesu Domine, done eis sempiternam requiem. Blessed Jesus, Lord I pray in Thy mercy, grant them rest. Lord our God, we pray Thee, grant them everlasting rest.

Sanctus (1:50)
Missa pro defunctis

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of power and majesty. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord our God: Hosanna in the highest.

Agnus Dei (7:09)
Missa pro defunctis

The burial service, 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, done eis requiem. Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world: in Thy mercy, grant them rest. Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow. In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour? I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.

The Lord Is My Shepherd (5:20)
Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name's sake. Yea, though I wak through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me. Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me: Thou has anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full. But thy loving kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Lux aeterna (7:09)
Missa pro defunctis

The burial service, 1662 Book of Common Prayer I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours: even so saith the Spirit. Lux Aeterna luceat eis, Domine: cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es. Requiem aeternum done eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Light eternal shine upon them, Lord we pray: with saints and angels ever dwelling, for Thy mercy's sake, may they rest in peace. Grant them rest eternal, Lord our God, we pray to Thee: and light perpetual shine on them for ever.

A Gaelic Blessing (3:45)

Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you; moon and stars pour their beaming light on you. Deep peace of Christ, the light of the world, to you.

PRODUCTION NOTES

Recording Credits

Recorded
July 28-29, 1993; Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas

Producer
J. Tamblyn Henderson, Jr.

Engineer
Keith O. Johnson

Second Engineer
Michael "Pflash" Pflaumer

Executive Producers
Marcia Martin, JTH

CD Mastering
Paul Stubblebine, JTH; Rocket Lab, San Francisco

Cover Design
Tony Balquin

Photography
Ben D. Britt

Flowers
Strictly Top Drawer, Dallas

Typeset/Layout
Pope Graphic Arts Center

Special Thanks to: The volunteers from the Dallas Symphony Chorus and The Mesquite Civic Chorus; Robert Arrowood, Lamar Livingston and Bobby Golibart, Meyerson Symphony Center; and to Kevin Voecks for the use of Snell Type B speakers for monitoring at the sessions.

OTHER

Dedication

This performance is dedicated to the memory of the Turtle Creek Chorale members lost to AIDS.
Requiem aeternam: et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Grant them rest eternal and light perpetual to shine on them forever.


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Introductions from the Liner Notes

Dr. Timothy Seelig

Dr. Timothy Seelig assumed the artistic direction of the Turtle Creek Chorale in 1987. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas as well as the Diploma in Lieder and Oratorio from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Dr. Seelig taught at the university level for thirteen years and has been active in conducting church choirs and clinics throughout the U.S. In addition to his conducting, he maintains a professional singing career, having made his European operatic debut in 1981 and his Carnegie Hall recital debut in 1989. Dr. Seelig has brought a joie de vivre and musical sensitivity to the Turtle Creek Chorale which, in turn, has brought rave reviews from audiences across the nation.

The Turtle Creek Chorale

The Turtle Creek Chorale is a Dallas-based male chorus of more than 200 singers. In its 13-year history, the group has garnered international acclaim for its performances and five recordings. In 1993, the chorus was invited to perform at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association. A recent PBS documentary chronicles the chorus in its musical and emotional journey with members living with AIDS. The chorus calls the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center its home.

The Women's Chorus of Dallas

The Women's Chorus of Dallas enters its fifth season as the premier women's chorus in Dallas. With an active roster of 100 singers, the group is fast becoming known for excellence in performance as well as diverse involvement in community activities. The chorus presents a subscription concert series in addition to touring. The two choruses have performed together extensively. The combined choruses made their Carnegie Hall debut singing John Rutter's Requiem under his baton. The groups have performed for Texas Governor Ann Richards' Inauguration, in a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II, and at the national conference of the Gay and Lesbian Choruses of America in Denver, Colorado.

Joel Martinson

Joel Martinson is Director of Music Ministries and Organist at Saint Rita Catholic Church. He holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Texas. As composer, Mr. Martinson currently has more than 25 works in print. He was recently elected Dean of the Dallas chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and performs regularly throughout the United States and England.