Spun of Thy Wheele | Marybeth Kurnat | MusicSpoke

Marybeth Kurnat

Spun of

Thy Wheele

choir

Composer’s Notes

This is my first work for church choirs. I was fortunate to be commissioned by the Baker Memorial Church Choir of St. Charles, IL - an incredibly capable group of singers and director who are very close to my heart. This text was presented to me by the commissioning couple, Burch and Diana Seymour. The Middle English poem, entitled “Huswifery” by Edward Taylor, explores the metaphor of creating and wearing the fabric of God through one’s ministry. As I studied Taylor’s poetry, the first thing that came to mind was Franz Schubert’s lied, Gretchen am Spinnrade (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel). The cyclical, spinning feeling of compound meter was a perfect match for the imagery of the text. A tip-of-the-hat to Schubert, the accompaniment was the first to materialize, albeit with a softer, warmer, more joyful ambience than that of the sorrowful German art song.

Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheele compleate. Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for mee. Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to thee. My Conversation make to be thy Reele And reele the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheele.

Make me thy Loome then, knit therein this Twine: And make thy Holy Spirit, Lord, winde quills: Then weave the Web thyselfe. The yarn is ﬁne. Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills. Then dye the same in Heavenly Colours Choice, All pinkt with Varnisht Flowers of Paradise.

Then cloath therewith mine Understanding, Will, Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory My Words, and Actions, that their shine may ﬁll My ways with glory and thee glorify. Then mine apparel shall display before yee That I am Cloathed in Holy robes for glory.

-Edward Taylor

About the Composer

Marybeth Kurnat (1987) is a rising modern voice in choral music in the Chicago area. Her authentic compositional style, especially her harmonic language, is heavily inﬂuenced by her musical foundation as a jazz saxophonist. Marybeth was the 2021-22 Winner of the Stephen Paulus Emerging Composer’s Competition, and a Composition Fellow for the 2023 PREMIERE|Project Festival.

Marybeth holds a B.M. in Music Education from Northern Illinois University, and serves as a music educator in DeKalb, IL. She maintains an active performance schedule as a soloist and choral singer with several Chicago-area choirs.

www.marybeth-kurnat.com

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Spun of Thy Wheele | Marybeth Kurnat | MusicSpoke

Published on Jul 24, 2024

MusicSpoke

This is my first work for church choirs. I was fortunate to be commissioned by the Baker Memorial Church Choir of St. Charles, IL - an incredibly capable group of singers and director who are very close to my heart. This text was presented to me by the commissioning couple, Burch and Diana Seymour. The Middle English poem, entitled “Huswifery” by Edward Taylor, explores the metaphor of creating and wearing the fabric of God through one’s ministry. As I studied Taylor’s poetry, the first thing that came to mind was Franz Schubert’s lied, Gretchen am Spinnrade (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel). The cyclical, spinning feeling of compound meter was a perfect match for the imagery of the text. A tip-of-the-hat to Schubert, the accompaniment was the first to materialize, albeit with a softer, warmer, more joyful ambience than that of the sorrowful German art song.