Ostara for choir (SSAATTB) Text by Stewart Farrar
Kirsten Volness 2005
Program note: Ostara is the pagan holiday honoring the return of spring, celebrated during the vernal equinox. Often fires are lit to symbolize light overtaking darkness, the return of warmth, and the renewal of life. The text itself is taken from a widely known book of ritual published in the 1970s and has since appeared in many other publications. Regardless of spiritual persuasion, I was drawn to its overwhelming message of peace, acceptance, and wishes for a better existence for all living things. Duration: 6’
Ostara We kindle this fire today In the presence of the Holy Ones, Without malice, without jealousy, without envy, Without fear of aught beneath the sun But the High Gods. Thee we invoke, O Light of Life; Be thou a bright flame before us, Be thou a shining star above us, Be thou a smooth path beneath us; Kindle thou within our hearts A flame of love for our neighbors, To our enemies, To our friends, to our kindred all, To all creatures on the broad earth, From the lowliest thing that lives, To the spirit that is highest of all. −Stewart Farrar
Ostara Text by Stewart Farrar
Kirsten Volness
Meditatively pulsating q=66
! ! Soprano 1 # "
$
# "!
$
Soprano 2
Alto 1
! #" & (
$
pp
'$
Hmm*
Alto 2
# "! &
$
$ *$
pp
' ' ' '
&
&
Hmm*
! # " *$ # Hmm*
*$
pp
Tenor 1
Tenor 2
Bass
# "! # %! " "
$
'
We
kin - dle
to - day
$ '$
*$
&
pp
*
fire
$
$
'
)( & ' ' '
*$ $
this
*
' ' *
*$ $
) '' * ' ' ( ' ' ''
& & '
$ & (
p
Solo
'
&
' '
$
' ' &
$
$
*Reiterate humming on repeated pitches, otherwise follow slurs
$
&
'
*$
*$
) ' ' '$
' *
*$
$
+
p
' *
this
fire
&
& &
&
)( '
$
' '
'' ' *
' *
*
* *$
'3 ' ' ' '3 ( ' in the pres - ence
$
' '
) (' *
Hmm*
$
*
&
$
of the
$ )( '
'
$
' '
&
' ' '
' & &
*$
*$
*$
*
Hmm*
'
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
2 S.1
! # *
&
$
16 ' '$ "" '
Tutti mp
& &
Ones,
$
#
p
' *$
Ho - ly
S.2
) '(&
mp
With - out
$
$
$
# /*
A.1
' *
Ho - ly
#
A.2
B.
"
%
$
p
mp
' ' *
- ly
&
Ones,
*
p
( ') ' ' & ( ') ' ' Hmm...
) ' ' (' ' & Ones, Hmm...
*$ * 0'
mp
Ho - ly
Ones,
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
"& "
$
*$ Hmm...
'
'
& *$
mp
p
'
'
"' "
)( & ' ' p
! " ' ' 0' ' ' '
" "
With
&
! ' '$ ( ' ' " ' $ '0' $ ' 0'
,"& &
" "
with - out
&
&
-
" "*
out
jeal
jeal
mp
(
-
-
ou - sy,
ou - sy,
3
with - out,
&
ou - sy,
( ' ' "! '. '
ice,
'
-
mf
with - out
jeal
-
ou - sy,
' ' /' ! " .
$
! "
$
mp
with - out
'
+
mal - ice,
mp
) /' ' ( '
-
jeal
3
mal - ice,
"& "
)( & ' '
' *
mp
- ly
" $ ' ' "'
With - out
' '
mal
mp
& &
Ones,
* 0' /*
# * # Ho
T.2
$
,"' &
with - out
" ' ' '$ " ' ' ' ' &
& &
mp
# * # Ho
T.1
&
' . '
,- & "'
mal - ice,
mp
With - out mp
' ' .
3 '$ ( ' ' "!
&
'
p
,' & "
mf
&
'
with
-
p
p
" " " "
," " & ' '$ " With - out
! "*
out
,"& &
" "
' $ ' ", ' &
" "
p
jeal-ou - sy,
3 S.1
S.2
A.1
! " #" &
" #" &
0* ' /' $
mf
with -out
en
-
-
mf
' 0' $ 0' 0' $ '
with - out
# "" +
en
&
-
A.2
T.1
mf
0' '$
T.2
B.
en
" #" # %" " "&
-
'
...vy
p
'
0'
-
vy,
en
&
! " ' 0' * en - vy,
&
$ &
&
vy,
$ 0' 0'
With - out
fear
- 1 p ' ' ' "" 02 with - out
-1 &
fear
" /* 0' 0' " p
-1 & &
fear
"& "
&
$ mf
! " 0'
0' '
en - vy,
&
&
-1 & &
with - out
&
!' "
&
&
!"'
) ( 0' ' 0'
!" 0'
&
fear
0*
of
of
&
fear
" "
-1 & 0' ' "" ' p
&
) ( 0' ' 0'
0* $
1 p & 0' /' "" *
' !"
0' ' ' ' 0' "! ' p
With - out
! " mp
0*
with - out
with - out
) ! 0' " *
$ &
O,
! "
mf
'$
vy,
vy,
$
" # " 0* # en...
! 0* "
0' ! ' 0' 0' "
With - out
" #"
p 21 1 - /' ' ' " * & & "
$
!"&
' ' ' ' ah
0* $
fear
!" 0'
&
&
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
4 S.1
! #
25 A tempo
poco rit.
$
&
(
pp
mf
0' ' ' ' '
Solo
' ' ' ' 0' '
0'
Aught
S.2
pp
$
#
0'
Aught
0'
' 0' 0' ' 0' '
Aught
A.1
0' ' ' 0' ' # '
) ' ( &
but
the
1 3 ' 0' 0' Aught
p
&
&
5
'
3
5
# ' ' 0' ' 0' '
*$
pp
the
High
but mf
' /' 0' '
0' ' 0'
' ' ' ' 0' aught but
$
$
T.2
B.
# & # # ' # % " &
*$
* ah
pp
) ( & '
0* '
ah
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
0'
pp
*
& ) '
0* $
*
the
sun
mf
0' 0'
$
'
$ &
'
'
'
0'
High
$ (
the High
mf
High pp
0'
High
0* $
aught be- neath the sun
T.1
*
' /'
Aught
aught be- neath the sun
A.2
3
' /'
mf
' ' 0' ' '
pp
1 ' 0' 0 '
3
&
mf
03'
but
& ' ' 0' $ the
High
&
mf
'
Aught
' ' 0' ' .
29
S.1
5
PiĂš mosso (q=76)
! *$ #
*$
mp
*$
&
Tutti mp
*
Gods.
S.2
) ' ( &
&
&
'
p
# *$ # '
$
$
) ' ( &
$
'
Gods.
A.2
$
T.2
&
# 0*
&
B.
% " *$
Gods
p
$
0*
be
0'
'
the
High
-
neath
sun
( 0') ' ' ' ' ) ( & '
&
sun
aught be
) ' (
Gods
&
sfz
be
' 0' ' ' ' ' '
*
* &
the
-
neath
'
0'
'
but
the
High
'
*$
the
Gods
p
'
0* $
' '
Thee
we
) ' (
$
in - voke,
' '$
Thee
( 0') ' ' ' ' *
# ' 0' ' ' ' ' ' # aught be - neath the # ' # but
) ' ( &
sun
Gods.
T.1
$
Thee
Gods.
A.1
$
the
-
neath
the
Gods. Thee
) ' (
*
p
) ' ( &
Gods.
Gods.
&
) ' ( &
&
' the
sfz
Gods.
in -
' '$
' .
) ' ' ' 0*
$
$
$
we
in -
in- voke,
& &
Thee we
Thee we
Thee
) ( ' 0' $
sun
' ' *
Gods. sfz
*
p
&
' .
&
&
p
'
*$
in - voke Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
6 S.1
! # &
molto
1*
" "
O
0'$ f
Light
f 1 %0&' ' $ /' " 0' $ # . " molto
S.2
O
A.1
A.2
#
1
Light
molto
' *
" '$ "
voke, O
Light
1
' * #
molto
voke, O
T.1
T.2
B.
f
Light
$
# #
" '$ " f
$
% " 0* $ O
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
' * .
of Life;
' 0* .
of Life;
of Life;
" 0' $ 0') ' ' " f
Light
0' 0' $
! ' '. ( & "
0' 0' $
!' ' ( & " .
of Life;
f
" " 0*
! ' '. ( & "
) ) ! ' ' ' ' " 0' ' ( &
" 0' $ 0') ' ' "
Light
molto
of Life;
f
Light
# #
' * .
of Life;
0* Life;
mp
Be thou mp
Be thou
' * .
'
a
flame
' * .
'
a
flame
mp
0' 0' ' Be thou
bright
0' 0' '
a
bright
mp
0' 0' ' Be thou
bright
a
bright
0' 0' $
! " ' '. ( &
0' ' $ 0') *
) ' 0*
'
Be thou
a
flame
bright
) ! ' '. ( 0' ' 0' 0' 0 ' " '$ Be thou
'
a bright
mp
a bright
mf
*
mf
*
flame
fore
/* -
fore
p
/'
us,
*
/'
us,
*
-
*
fore
/'
us,
*
-
fore
0' 0' ' ' ' /* *
-
' be
* -
' be
fore
fore
* -
fore
)( ' p
'
us,
*
mf
be
)( ' p
' 0' ' ' 0' /* be
)( ' p
mf
0' 0* flame
-
' be
mf
&
/*
0' be
mf
mp
0' be
flame
mp
Be thou
*
flame
0' 0' ' ' '
! " ' '. ( &
O
'
mf
)( ' p
'
*
) ' (
us,
' 0*
p
) ' (
us,
/' 0* us,
p
' . (
7 S.1
! #
$
dolce p
pp ) ' * '$ '
&
star
$
#
S.2
&
dolce p
star
$
#
A.1
'
$
a - bove us, pp
'$ ') ' * a - bove us,
$
accel.
ben f
*
smooth
& ' '$ ' ' ' ' $ mf
Be
$
ben f
thou a
$
smooth
$
#
A.2
) pp ' ' '$ ' ' *
gui - ding star
* ) # ' /' $ ' ' ' # Be thou a gui-ding star dolce
T.1
dolce
# ' * # Be thou
T.2
B.
"
%
$
a - bove us,
mf
pp
'( & & .
' ' ' 0' ' *
( 0') *
path
' '
be - neath us,
path
smooth
$
be- neath
' 0' *
' '
ooh
ooh ooh
*
0' 0' *
path
be - neath us,
'$ ' *
mf
ben f
thou a
smooth
ooh ooh
'
ooh
' path
* ' '
be - neath
us,
us,
0* $
) 0' ( 0* ff
us,
be
-
neath
) 0' ' ' 0* $ '((. ff
us,
be... be - neath
ff
) 0' ( &
&
be- neath
0'
$
) ( 0' 0* be- neath
be - neath us,
' .(
( '. *$
) ) ( ( ' '''' ''' ' ' 0' ' $ ' ') 0* ooh
*
) 0' ( &
be- neath
be - neath us,
ff
( ) 0* '
ben f
$ & &
be- neath
be - neath us,
path
'
ben f
a - bove us,
$
be- neath
ben f
Be thou a
pp
$
be - neath us,
& ' ' '$ ' '' '''' *
) ' ' '$ ' ' *
gui - ding star
path
( ' 0* .
' ' ' 0' 0' * .
ooh dolce
' 0' *
( 0') *
ben f
&
*
( ) * '
be- neath
us, ff
be - neath
us, ff
0' ' be
) '(&
&
) 0' ( &
&
us,
neath
) & ( 0' '
us, ff
-
'
be- neath
& &
0' ' 'neath
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
8
(short pause)
4 55 ! sfz ' " # & & " (q=112)
S.1
More declarative (q=108)
$
$
! "
$
us!
sfz
S.2
0' " # & & "
$
$
us!
# 0' & & ""
$
" # 0' & & "
$
$
$
B.
sfz
0' & & " "
$
$
&
us!
$
' '0 ' 0' ' '0 ' ' ' 0' (. .( mf
with - in
" # 0' & & " + # us!
mp
0' $
mp
us!
Kin - dle thou
% ' " 0' " 0' & & " '
mf
& ( ') '0' 0*
sfz
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
a
poco f
3
) ('
3
our
$
$
a
hearts poco f
'5' ' ( 5') a
$
$
$
( 5')
poco f
5*
hearts
sfz
T.2
hearts
0' 0' ' 0' ' $0' 0'0'0' 0' /* ' mf
$
! "
us!
# #
our
hearts
sfz
T.1
'
! "
us!
A.2
Kin - dle thou with - in 3
mp
) ( /'
poco f
3
Kin - dle, kin - dle thou with - in
sfz
A.1
$
! "&
$
$ 0'0' ' 0* 0' 0' 0' ' ' 0' ' mf
3
our hearts, with - in
& 0' '
'
with - in our hearts,
in
' '0' * .
0' 0' ' .(
with - in our hearts,
our
mp
with - in
our
0*
our
p
!' "
0*
$
hearts
poco f
3
0'0' '0' & 5' in
our
a
5'
&
kin - dle
p
3
! " '0'0' '
$
0'
$
$
hearts
' 0'0' ! .( "&
' '0'0' 3
hearts
' ' $0' 0' 0 ' 0' mf
3
Kin - dle thou with - in
poco f
0* our
/*
5'
hearts
a
S.1
! /* # flame
ben f
of
flame
' '5' *
ben f
*
of
5'5' ' '
ben f
flame
of
'
flame
# 5' #
T.1
a
3
B.
"
'$
5' $ # # flame % 5' $
) 5' '
flame
'
of
of
of
'(& .
en - em - ies,
" "
$
) '(&
to our friends,
$
to our
&
+
3
3
love
5' love,
ben f
5'
love
'
to our
5'
love
5*
' &
5' 5' & neigh- bors,
*
"+ "
) ' ' ( '
'' &
neigh - bors,
&
to our friends,
53' ' 5* &
for ourneigh- bors,
$
ben f
5'
5' ( ' 5' 5' 3
5' ' 5' '
to our
& &
to our friends,
" '$ ' ' '. ( ' " en - em - ies,
en - em - ies,
to
to
kin - dred
! "
all,
to
rfzp rfzp
) )( $ '$ 5 ' ' * all,
! "
rfzp rfzp
) ) ( / ' ') ( & '$ ' '
kin - dred
all,
! '$ 5'. '. ( ' ' ( & " . rfzp rfzp
kin - dred
all.,
) * 5') ' ') "! /' $ 5') ') ( ' ' ( & rfzp rfzp
our friends, to our
" 5' $ ' '') ( " '$ ' 5*
all,
p ) ! ) ) & ( ' ' (5' 5 ' 5' " ' $ ' '
&
3 ) /' " & (5'5' " '$ ' ' ( & ' 5*
en - em - ies,
kin - dred
rfzp rfzp
3
to our
5' 5'5' ' '5' 5' ' .
flame
3 & (5'5' "" 5' $5' '. ( & 5' ' 5* 3
love ben f
) ' '
poco f
T.2
of
&
to our friends,
p rfzp rfzp ) ! ) ) & ( ' ' ( ( ') " $ 5 ' ' ' 5 ' 5'
love
3 ) (5' 5'5' '5*
# 5*
) '(&
en - em - ies,
to our
ben f
A.2
53' & (5'5' "" 5' $5' '. ( & ' 5* 3
to our
3
love
) ' ( (5') '5'5' * 5 ' ' #
A.1
&
3
love
5'
# 5*
S.2
5* $
5'
9
65
& *$ our
kin - dred
all,
rfzp rfzp
' '(& ! . " '$ '. '. ( kin - dred
all,
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
10 S.1
! # '$
) ' ' 5'
all
crea
# '5' ' ' '
S.2
all
# &
A.1
p
'5 ' ' all
#
A.2
# #
T.1
# #
T.2
B.
"
%
$ $ $
tures
'( ' ' .
on the
5* $
mf
*$
broad
/* $
*$
mf
)( ' ' '
on the
$ $ $
*$
$ $ $
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
$
$
*$
*$ ' 0' * ' ' ' all
crea- tures
on the broad 3
3
0' * ' ' ' *$
$
crea- tures
*$
*$
$
*$
$
on the broad
$
$
earth,
& &
mf
*
'
'
a
flame
of
love,
mf
*
'
'
a
flame
of
love,
& & '
mf
mf
& & /' a
flame
0' flame
of
3 ' ' '0')
'
3
'$
of
love,
*
'
'
) '( &
&
& & ' a
' '' ' 3
love,
'
& &
a
) ) & & ( ' '''( ( ' ''' . a
$
'
3
3
earth,
*$
broad
&
to
mf
broad
*$
earth,
) 0* $ '( ' ' on the
*$
) 0' '
' . ( & &
of
*
'
flame
of
) ) & & ( ' '''( ( ' . a
) '( &
'
flame
& & ' a
flame
0' flame
of
'
' of
85
81
! *$ #
poco rall.
S.1
*
Poco meno mosso (q=100)
'( " . "
earth,
S.2
# *$
*
earth,
A.1
# *$ # *$
T.2
B.
# #
'
& 3 ' ' '0') '
' # '' # love,
love,
mp
' '
From the
love,
% " '$
$
3
) '(' ' mp
" "
3
'0' ' ') ( & & ) 0' '
)! ) ( ' ' "6 ' " '$ * ' ' 0' ' '
*
lives,
! "* 0' ' ' ' ' 3
lives,
" 0' ' ' ' $ '. ! *$ " " " & & "
the
' the
mp
3
low - li - est thing that
) ' ( ""
low - li - est
3
low - li - est thing
From the
3
From the
mp
6 " '$
thing
lives,
! " & & 0'
the
6 "' *
that lives,
that lives,
!) ' ' ' ' 0' "0*$ est thing that
'
'
low - li - est
mp
! ' ' ' " *$
thing
low - li -
6 "' '
that lives,
!" 0' ' ' 0' ' *$
low - li - est
lives,
)! '$ ' " * $
thing that
low
6 " 0' '
mp
$
thing
! 6 " & ' ' ' 0' " ' 0' ' '
$ mp
3
low - li - est
mp
low - li - est thing that
love,
T.1
) " '( "
*
earth,
A.2
! ' '6 '' ' "& ' ' "' From the
) ' ( ""
'0' ' "! *$
mp
,
11
Even slower (q=84)
) ' '
pp
'$
To
mp
3
'''
'' '
the
spir - it
that is
pp
mp
3
& ( ) ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '' ' To
&
the spir - it
pp
that is
mp
' 0' To
the
$
lives,
0'
3
'
'' '
spir - it
that is
mp
'
&
'
spir - it
!' 0' " * $
$
!" ' 0' *$
$
$
!' " *$
$
$
thing that
thing that
0'
thing that
(alto 2) mp
'
&
'
spir - it
lives,
lives,
lives, Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
12
f
Solo
' ' 0 ' *$ ' ' ' 3
3
! ' 0' ' # '
crescendo poco a poco
S.1
''' ' ' ' .
'
3
3
high - est of all. crescendo poco a poco 3
# ' ''' '
S.2
high - est of all. crescendo poco a poco
#
A.1
#
A.2
3
0 ' ' ' 0'
high - est of all. crescendo poco a poco
'
of
# #
T.1
# #
T.2
B.
"
%
)( ' 0'
all.
$ $
'
Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005
' ( & .
3
0' ' '0'
&
'
' ( & .
&
) ( & '0' ' '
) ( ( ) ' $ ' '0' ' * ' ' ' 0 ' ' '' &
'
'
From
the
low - li - est thing that lives, crescendo poco a poco
mp
* &
$ ' ' ' 0' ' '
0'
the
&
mp
'
To
'
To
'
*
the
spir
) ') ' ' ' '$ / ' ' ' ''' ' ' 3
low li -
3
3
est thing that lives,
crescendo poco a poco
0* all
'
that
* lives,
3
spir -
From the low - li - est thing that lives, crescendo poco a poco 3
3
) '''' ' & 3
0'
3
To
the
spir
' -
3
'0' ' '
spir
it
-
-
3
3
3
' ''' ' '0'
3
all.
f
that is high - est
it
of
' ' ' ' *$ ' ' ' ' '
it
spir -
all. f
3
3
$
3
that is high - est
( 0' ' '0' ' '
&
$
3
it
3
3
of
3
( 0' ' '0' ' '
&
To the spir -
3
mp
3
3
To the spir -
3
From
$
' ' ' ' *$ ' ' ' '' high - est
of
all.
3
'0' ' '
' high
-
est
est
0'
it
high - est
it
3
) '$ 0' '
'
f
of
all.
*$
f
$
it
'
all.
) ( '
all.
'
&
f
' ' ' *$
''''
'
) ' *
of f
3
high-
3
all.
&
) ' '& 3
high - est
f
'
of
* all.
3
'0' '
! %0& '. ( ' ' ' # 94
S.1
# & # &
S.2
# &
A.1
all.
of
*
*$
' * . (
of
all.
of
*
*$
' * . (
of
all.
of
&
' ' 0' '
A
) # '0' ' ' ( & # 3
# #
T.2
B.
"
%
flame
' 0*
# *
T.1
' ''' . (
of
A
A.2
*$
*$
*$
'''
'
*
*$
all,
of
all,
of
all.
'''
'
'
*
*$
of
all,
of
all.
ritardando e diminuendo al fine*
flame
of
*$
of
love.
*$
'''
&
'
&
all.
'
love.
'
'
all.
) 0' '
'$
&
'
'
of
all,
' ( ( '. '$ .
'' .
of
'
*$
*
all.
'( & .
'
& 0' of
*
&
*$
&
) ' ( &
&
& &
' 0' A
flame
'
of
love.
*$
of
all.
*$
' ( *$ . $
ppp
*$
*$ *$
ppp
*$
*$
' ( & 0' .
ppp
*$
*$ *$
love.
of
&
& '
0* & ( '. ' love.
&
' 0*
love.
0* $
A
of
*$
n
' . ( & &
13
n
' . ( & & n
'( & & . n
*$
'( & & .
ppp
) '( & &
love.
love.
' 0* $
*
of
of
*$
&
*$
ppp
of
love.
*$
ppp
*$
of
' ' ' flame
*$
love.
*$
ppp
*$
of
& & '
of
love. ppp
*
n
'
*$
n
) '( & & n
'( & & . n
) '( & &
love.
*if decrescendo is unobtainable, continue f dynamic to end with ritardando. Kirsten Volness - Ostara - 2005