The Angel's Appearance
The piece "The Angel's Apperance" was composed in 2014, but was only premiered in 2019 by the Rhineland-Palatinate Youth Choir (Germany) under my direction. The recording is from a concert in autumn 2019 in Buenos Aires, where Jan Schumacher was the conductor.
The piece is a setting of the Bible scene in which the angel appears to the shepherds and announces the birth of Jesus. The focus is initially on the mysterious and frightening aspect of this encounter. The angel is sung by two solo sopranos, giving it an eerie, alien sound.
Only at the very end of the piece, with the word “peace,” the tension dissolves into a melodious major chord.
Luke 2: 8-11, 13-14:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them
and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them:
Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
A savior has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord.
And suddenly a company of heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising god and saying:
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
Choir: SSAATTBBB
Length: 6.5 min
Rhineland-Palatinate Youth Choir, Conductor: Jan Schumacher, 2019