Cedit, Hyems (Be Gone, Winter!)
Voicing: SATB div., fluteText: Prudentius & Carmina Burana ms.
Language: Latin
Duration: 3 min.
Commissioned: for The Dale Warland Singers by Brian and Jackie Steele, to celebrate the life of Arthur Benjamin Jacobson
Premiere: December 6, 2003 in Minneapolis, MN. The Dale Warland Singers with Linda Chatterton, flute
Published by: G. Schirmer: Dale Warland Choral Series, Cat. No. 50486492
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Score Sample: PREVIEW THE SCORE
REVIEW:
"Abbie Betinis' music is always interesting, always adventuresome, and, most importantly, always effective."
- Dale Warland, editor of G. Schirmer's Dale Warland Choral Series
LISTEN:
Cedit, Hyems: mp3, 3:00, 2.8 MB
Performed live by The Dale Warland Singers; Linda Chatterton, flute. Dale Warland, conductor.
PROGRAM NOTE:
Cedit, Hyems (Be Gone, Winter!), written in September 2003 on commission from the Dale Warland Singers, depicts the coming of Christ into a troubled, confused world. The opening flute is meant to sound lonely as it wanders through unpredictable chords. The chorus’ entrance also shifts uneasily, as if waiting for something. The flute realizes first the potential of Christ’s coming, encouraging the chorus in faster rhythms, louder dynamics, and soon the voices are attempting to drive the world’s coldness away in preparation for Christ. At first, because they are so physically and emotionally cold, the voices can only whisper the Latin word "cedit" (‘be gone’), but the harsh whispering begins to subside as Christ's love begins to envelope them. With a sweeping melody, and a rhythmic propulsion, the chorus is finally able to shoo out the desolation of winter with the newly acquired strength that only love can bring: "Christ comes! Depart!"
- Abbie Betinis, 2003
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Cedit, Hyems Nox, et tenebrae, et nubila confusa mundi et turbida, lux intrat, albescit polus, Christus venit, discedite! “Hymnus Matutinus” (lines 1-4) from Cathemerinon II by Prudentius (348 - ca.410). Public domain. Cedit, hyems, tua durities, frigor abiit; rigor et glacies brumalis et feritas, rabies, torpor et improba segnities, pallor et ira, dolor et macies. Nunc amor aureus advenies, indomitos tibi subjicies, tendo manus... Anonymous, ms of Benedictbeuern (Carmina Burana). Public domain. |
Be Gone, Winter! O Night and clouded Darkness, Confused and troubled world, Light enters in, the sky is whitening, Christ comes! Depart! “Morning Hymn” (lines 1-4). Trans. by Stephen Self. Used by permission. Now, Winter, yieldeth all they dreariness, The cold is over, all they frozenness, All frost and fog, and wind’s untowardness. All sullenness, uncomely sluggishness, Paleness and anger, grief and haggardness. Now Love, all golden, comest thou to me, Bowing the tameless ‘neath thine empery. I stretch my hands... Trans. by Helen Waddell (1929). Used by permission of Constable & Robinson Publishing Co., London. |
Performed by:
Paris Singing Adventure & EAMA Chorale (Mark Shapiro, conductor)
Monmouth Civic Chorus (Mark Shapiro, conductor)
The Dale Warland Singers (Dale Warland, conductor)
(Have you performed this work? Contact me to add your ensemble.)Monmouth Civic Chorus (Mark Shapiro, conductor)
The Dale Warland Singers (Dale Warland, conductor)