John Harbison
ABRAHAM sacred motet for string nonet and double choir
From the G. Schirmer Rental Library Date of Printing________________
Associated Music Publishers, Inc. New York, NY
John Harbison
ABRAHAM sacred motet for string nonet and double choir
The original version of Abraham, for double brass choir and double choir was commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with the generous support of the Knights of Columbus Premiered at The Concert of Reconciliation in the presence of His Holiness Pope John Paul II on 17 January, 2004 performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Brass, the London Philharmonic Choir, The Krakow Philharmonic Choir, the Ankara Polyphonic Choir, and members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, under the direction of Sir Gilbert Levine KCSG in the Aula Paolo VI/Sala Nervi The Vatican The 2018 re-orchestration of Abraham was written for Emmanuel Music
Associated Music Publishers, Inc. New York, NY
Instrumentation:
String Quintet Violin Ia Violin IIa Viola a Violoncello a Contrabass
String Quartet Violin Ib Violin IIb Viola b Violoncello b
2 SATB Choirs Genesis 17: And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect… and thou shalt be a father of many nations”. The Vatican is both ancient and very modern. As I worked toward this piece, issues familiar to Palestrina mingled with speed of light communication. Just a few weeks before the performance of Abraham, Pope John Paul II issued a chirography on sacred music that affirms the continuing importance of Gregorian chant in the composition of new works. Abraham reflects this conjunction of the ancient and the new. The Old Testament text was chosen by a present-day committee including the Pope himself, his close associates, and Sir Gilbert Levine, conductor-architect of the concert. The committee listened to a number of motets I had composed for the Emmanuel Choir in Boston, and their reactions influenced the particular combination of old and new elements present in the piece: triadic harmony of an especially ancient cast, fused with recent formal and rhythmic concepts. Abraham is constructed to embody musically what is necessary culturally and politically; the contemporary melding of ancient traditions is the essential first step toward peace in the twenty-first century. John Paul II, whose views on theological issues were conservative, remained steadfastly radical in his pacifism. In his address at the conclusion of the concert he emphasized points of congruency between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity: veneration for the Patriarch Abraham, and the resurrection of the dead. “Nourished by these convictions,” he maintained, “Jews, Muslims, and Christians cannot accept that the earth be afflicted by hatred or that humanity be overwhelmed by endless wars.”
It was a privilege to offer Abraham for the Papal Concert of Reconciliation in January 2004.
In December 2018 I made a reduction, for practical purposes, from the original large symphonic brass section to string nonet, for performance by Emmanuel Music on April 27, 2019.
—John Harbison March 2019 duration ca. 6’ First performance: Concert of Reconciliation, The Vatican, Rome, Italy - January 17, 2004 The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Ankara State Polyphonic Choir Krakow Philharmonic Choir London Philharmonic Choir Members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh Maestro Gilbert Levine, KCSG, Conductor
Dedicated to His Holiness Pope John Paul II in honor of his pontificate-long dedication to fostering reconciliation among the peoples of Abraham: Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and with deep gratitude to Maestro Sir Gilbert Levine KCSG, for his 15–year–long creative collaboration with His Holiness, which led to the great honor of this commission.
ABRAHAM Con moto, drammatico
John Harbison
= 108
sostenuto Soprano
And
when,
And when,
sostenuto
Choir I
Alto
And
And when,
when,
sostenuto Tenor 8
And
when,
And when,
sostenuto Bass
And
And when,
when, sostenuto
Soprano
And
when,
And
when
And
when
And
when
And
when
sostenuto
Choir II
Alto
And
when,
sostenuto Tenor 8
And
when,
sostenuto Bass
And
Con moto, drammatico
when,
= 108
Violin Ia
String Quintet
Violin IIa
Viola a
Violoncello a
Contrabass
String Quartet
Violin Ib
Violin IIb
Viola b
Violoncello b
Copyright © 2004 by Associated Music Publishers (BMI) New York, NY This version Copyright © 2019 by Associated Music Publishers (BMI) New York, NY International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Warning: Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law and subject to criminal prosecution.
Property of:
G. Schirmer Rental Library Old Rte. 17, Chester, NY 10918 SUPPLIED ON LOAN ONLY
2
Tranquillo 8
semplice
S
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra
semplice A
A
bra ham, semplice
T 8
A
bra ham, semplice
B
A
bra ham, semplice
S
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
semplice A
A
bra ham, semplice
T 8
A
bra ham, semplice
B
A
Tranquillo Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
bra ham,
3
14 S
ham
was
nine ty years old and nine,
ham
was
nine ty years old and nine,
ham
was
nine ty years old and nine,
ham
was
nine ty years old and nine,
A
T 8
B
S
A
bra ham
was
nine ty years old and nine,
A
bra ham
was
nine ty years old and nine,
A
bra ham
was
nine ty years old and nine,
A
bra ham
was
nine ty years old and nine,
A
T 8
B
Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
4 Drammatico
20 S
The
Lord
ap peared
to
A bra ham,
the
Lord
ap peared
to
The
Lord
ap peared
to
A bra ham,
the
Lord
ap peared
to
The
Lord
ap peared
to
A bra ham,
the
Lord
ap peared
to
The
Lord
ap peared
to
A bra ham,
the
Lord
ap peared
to
The
Lord
ap peared
to
A bra ham,
the
Lord
ap peared
to
The
Lord
ap peared
to
A bra ham,
the
Lord
ap peared
to
The
Lord
ap peared
to
A bra ham,
the
Lord
ap peared
to
The
Lord
ap peared
to
A bra ham,
the
Lord
ap peared
to
A
T 8
B
S
A
T 8
B
Drammatico pizz.
0 0
Vn. Ia
pizz.
0 0
Vn. IIa
pizz. Va. a
Vc. a
pizz.
arco
Cb.
pizz. Vn. Ib
pizz.
arco
pizz.
arco
pizz.
Vn. IIb
pizz. Va. b
pizz. Vc. b
arco
pizz.
5
rit.
25
A tempo, misterioso
S
A bra ham
and
said
un to
him,
rit. A
A bra ham
and
said
un to
him,
rit. T 8
A bra ham
and
said
un to
him,
rit. B
A bra ham
and
said
un to
him,
I
am
the Al might
y
rit. S
A bra ham
and
said
un to
him,
rit. A
A bra ham
and
said
un to
him,
and
said
un to
him,
I
am
the Al might
y
and
said
un to
him,
I
am
the Al might
y
rit. T 8
A bra ham
rit. B
A bra ham
arco
A tempo, misterioso
rit.
Vn. Ia
arco Vn. IIa
arco Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
arco Vn. IIb
arco Va. b
arco Vc. b
6
30 S
I
am the Al might
y
God,
A
I
am
the Al might
y
God,
I
am
the Al might
y
God,
T 8
B
God,
I
am
the
Al might
y
S
I
am the Al might
y
God,
am the Al might
y
God,
A
I
am
the Al
might
y
God, I
T 8
God,
I
am
the
Al might
y
God,
I
am
the
Al might
y
B
Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
arco Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
7 rit.
33
a tempo
cantabile
S
I
am
the Al might y
God;
rit.
Walk
a tempo
be fore me,
walk
cantabile
A
I
am
the Al might y
God;
rit.
Walk
a tempo
be
fore me,
walk
be
cantabile
T 8
I
am
the Al might y
God;
rit.
a tempo Walk
be fore me,
walk
be fore me
cantabile
B
God, I
am
the Al might y
God;
rit.
Walk
be
fore me,
a tempo
walk
be
fore me,
and
cantabile
S
I amthe Al might y
God;
rit.
Walk
a tempo
be fore me,
walk
cantabile
A
I amthe Al might y
God;
a tempo
rit.
Walk
be
fore me,
walk
be
cantabile
T 8
God, I
am
the Al might y
God;
rit.
a tempo
Walk
be fore me,
walk
be fore me
cantabile
B
God, I
am
rit.
the Al might y
God;
Walk
be
fore me,
walk
be
fore me,
and
a tempo
Vn. Ia
cantabile Vn. IIa
cantabile Va. a
cantabile Vc. a
cantabile Cb.
Vn. Ib
cantabile Vn. IIb
cantabile Va. b
cantabile Vc. b
cantabile
8
39 S
be fore me
and be thou
per
fect,
walk
be fore me,
walk
be fore me
A
fore me
and
be thou per
fect,
walk
be
fore me,
walk
be
fore me,
and
T 8
and be thou
per
fect,
walk
be fore me
walk
be fore me
and be thou
B
be thou per
fect,
walk
be
fore me
walk
be
fore me,
and
be thou per
S
be fore me
and be thou
per
fect,
walk
be fore me,
walk
be fore me
A
fore me
and
be thou per
fect,
walk
be
fore me,
walk
be
fore me,
and
T 8
and be thou
per
fect,
walk
be fore me
walk
be fore me
and be thou
B
be thou per
Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
fect,
walk
be
fore me
walk
be
fore me,
and
be thou per
9 dim.
46 S
and be thou
per
fect, be thou
per
fect.
dim. A
be thou per
fect,
be thou per
fect.
T 8
per
fect,
and be thou dim.
B
fect,
and
be thou per
dim. S
and be thou
per
fect, be thou
per
fect.
dim. A
be thou per
fect,
be thou per
fect.
T 8
per
fect,
and be thou dim.
B
fect,
Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
and
be thou per
10
53
Più animato
= 120
Più animato
= 120
S
A
dim. T 8
per
fect.
B
fect.
S
A
dim. T 8
per
fect.
B
fect.
Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
11
59 Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
64 Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
12
68 Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
73 Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
13
78 Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
pizz. Vc. a
pizz. Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
rit.
83 Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
arco Vc. a
arco
pizz.
Cb.
Vn. Ib
0
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
14
Tempo I ( = 108)
(rit.)
88 S
And when
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
The
And when
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
The
And when
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
The
And when
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
The
(rit.) A
(rit.) T 8
(rit.) B
(rit.) S
And when
A
bra
ham
was
nine
ty
years
old
and
nine,
And when
A
bra
ham
was
nine
ty
years
old
and
nine,
And when
A
bra
ham
was
nine
ty
years
old
and
nine,
And when
A
bra
ham
was
nine
ty
years
old
and
nine,
(rit.) A
(rit.) T 8
(rit.) B
(rit.) Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
Tempo I ( = 108)
15 cedendo 93
Poco meno mosso
= 100
marc.
S
Lord
ap peared
to
A
bra ham
and
said un
to him,
I
am
the Al
might
y God;
I
am
the Al
might
y God;
I
am
the Al
might
y God;
I
am
the Al
might
y God;
cedendo
I
am
the Al
might
y God;
cedendo
I
am
the Al
might
y God;
I
am
the Al
might
y God;
I
am
the Al
might
y God;
cedendo marc. A
Lord
ap peared
to
A
bra ham
and
said un
to him,
cedendo marc. T 8
Lord
ap peared
to
A
bra ham
and
said un
to him,
cedendo marc. B
Lord
ap peared
to
A
bra ham
and
said un
to him,
cedendo S
A
T 8
cedendo B
cedendo Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
Poco meno mosso
= 100
16 Con anima
98
dim.
cresc.
S
Walk
fore
be
me,
walk,
and
be
thou
per
cresc.
dim.
A
Walk
be
fore me,
walk
be fore me,
walk,
and be thou
per
fect, be thou
cresc.
dim.
T 8
be
Walk
fore
me,
walk,
be
fore me
and
be
thou
per
cresc.
dim.
B
Walk
be
fore
me and
be thou per
fect,
and
be
thou
per
fect and
be thou per
dim.
cresc. S
be
Walk
fore
me,
walk,
and
be
thou
per
cresc.
dim.
A
Walk
be
fore me,
walk
be fore me,
walk,
and be thou
per
fect, be thou
cresc.
dim.
T 8
be
Walk
fore
me,
walk,
be
fore me
and
be
thou
per
cresc.
dim.
B
Walk
be
fore
me and
be thou per
fect,
and
be
thou
per
fect and
be
thou per
Con anima Vn. Ia
cresc.
dim.
cresc.
dim.
Vn. IIa
Va. a
cresc.
dim.
Vc. a
cresc.
dim.
cresc.
dim.
Cb.
Vn. Ib
cresc.
dim.
Vn. IIb
cresc.
dim.
Va. b
cresc.
dim.
Vc. b
cresc.
dim.
17
105
Tempo primo, risoluto
cedendo
(dim.)
S
fect.
And
cedendo
(dim.) A
per
fect.
And
cedendo
(dim.) T 8
fect,
per
fect.
And
cedendo
(dim.) B
fect,
per
cedendo
(dim.)
And
fect.
cresc.
S
fect.
And thou shalt
cedendo
(dim.)
be
a
fa
ther
of man y
na
tions,
be
a
fa
ther
of man y
na
tions,
be
a
fa
ther
of man y
na
tions,
be
a
fa
ther
of man y
na
tions,
cresc.
A
per
fect.
And thou shalt
cedendo
(dim.)
cresc.
T 8
fect,
per
fect.
And thou shalt
cedendo
(dim.)
cresc.
B
fect,
per
fect.
cedendo
And thou shalt
Tempo primo, risoluto
Vn. Ia
(dim.) Vn. IIa
(dim.) Va. a
(dim.) Vc. a
(dim.) Cb.
(dim.)
Vn. Ib
(dim.)
cresc.
Vn. IIb
cresc. Va. b
cresc. Vc. b
cresc.
18
110
cresc.
cresc.
S
thou shalt
be
a
fa
ther
of man y
na
tions,
And thou shalt
be
a
fa
a
fa
a
fa
a
fa
a
fa
a
fa
a
fa
a
fa
cresc.
cresc. A
thou shalt
be
a
fa
ther
of man y
na
tions,
And thou shalt
cresc.
be cresc.
T 8
thou shalt
be
a
fa
ther
of man y
na
tions,
And thou shalt
cresc.
be cresc.
B
thou shalt
be
a
fa
ther
of man y
na
tions,
And thou shalt
be cresc.
S
And thou shalt
be cresc.
A
And thou shalt
be cresc.
T 8
And thou shalt
be cresc.
B
And thou shalt
be
Vn. Ia
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
cresc.
Vn. Ib
cresc. Vn. IIb
cresc. Va. b
cresc.
Vc. b
cresc.
19 a tempo 115 (cresc.)
allarg.
S
ther (cresc.)
of man y
na
tions.
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
a tempo
allarg.
A
ther (cresc.)
of man y
na
tions.
A
bra ham,
a tempo
allarg.
T 8
ther (cresc.)
of man y
na
tions.
A
bra ham,
a tempo
allarg.
B
ther
(cresc.)
of man y
na
tions.
A
bra ham,
a tempo
allarg.
S
ther (cresc.)
of man y
na
tions.
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
a tempo
allarg.
A
ther (cresc.)
of man y
na
tions.
a tempo
allarg.
T 8
ther (cresc.)
of man y
na
tions.
a tempo
allarg.
B
ther
of man y
allarg. Vn. Ia
(cresc.) Vn. IIa
(cresc.)
Va. a
(cresc.) Vc. a
(cresc.) Cb.
(cresc.)
Vn. Ib
(cresc.) Vn. IIb
(cresc.) Va. b
(cresc.) Vc. b
(cresc.)
na
tions.
a tempo
20
121 S
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra
A
bra
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
T 8
ham,
ham,
B
S
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra ham,
A
bra
A
T 8
B
Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b
21
127 S
A
bra
ham.
A
bra
ham.
A
bra
ham.
A
bra
ham.
ham,
A
bra
ham.
ham,
A
bra
ham.
ham,
A
bra
ham.
ham,
A
bra
ham.
A
T 8
B
S
A
T 8
B
Vn. Ia
Vn. IIa
Va. a
Vc. a
Cb.
Vn. Ib
Vn. IIb
Va. b
Vc. b