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WorksChoral MusicMixed ChorusDormi Jesu

Dormi Jesu (Sleep Jesus)
Finalist for the Ithaca Choral Composition Competition

Voicing: SATB a cappella (non divisi)
Text: Anonymous
Language: Latin
Duration: 4:45 min.
Premiere: July, 2001; Paris, France; Mark Shapiro, conductor
Published by: G. Schirmer: Dale Warland Choral Series, Cat No. 50486936
Score Sample: PREVIEW THE SCORE (pdf)



  REVIEWS (Click to view/hide)
Abbie's compositional voice is fresh yet accessible. This particular piece is a masterful blend of line and colorful verticalities that never crosses the line into sappiness. The publisher likens the style as a cross between Bruckner and Messiaen, but it is worth noting that Betinis uses harmony, melodic impetus and texture in her own way. A beautiful piece for anytime of year, but especially for the holidays.
- Drew Collins, conductor. "Newer Music for Advanced Choirs," Choral Director Magazine, Jan 2010

LISTEN:
Dormi Jesu: mp3, 4:42, 4.4 MB
Performed by Ensemble of the North. Patrick McDonough, conductor.

  WATCH (Click to view/hide)

Port Washington High School Concert Choir (2010-11), Port Washington, Wisconsin.

PROGRAM NOTE:
Dormi, Jesu was written in July of 2001, just after visiting some glorious European cathedrals with the St. Olaf Choir. The piece was inspired by Anton Bruckner’s “Os Justi” and Olivier Messiaen’s “O Sacrum Convivium,” both on the choir’s European tour program that summer. Dormi, Jesu was premiered under the direction of Mark Shapiro at l’Eglise Saint Severin in Paris, France just a few days after its completion, and was a finalist for the Ithaca Choral Composition Competition in fall of 2004, where it was given its US premiere by the West Genessee High School Chorale. The piece is dedicated to Dr. Anton Armstrong and the members of the St. Olaf Choir 2000-2001, with great admiration.
- Abbie Betinis

TEXT:
Dormi Jesu
Dormi, Jesu. Mater ridet
Quae tam dulcem somnum videt.         
Dormi, Jesu, blandule.

Si non dormis, mater plorat.
Inter fila cantans orat,
Blande, veni, somnule.


Anonymous
Sleep Jesus
Sleep, Jesus. Thy mother smiles
when she sees such gentle slumber.
Sleep Jesus, gently.

If you do not sleep, your mother cries.
And, singing, prays as she weaves:
"Come, gentle sleep."



Translation by Abbie Betinis (and dictionary)

This text and translation are in the public domain, and may be reprinted from this website for use in concert programs and for promotional use as related to this musical work.

  ERRATA (Click to view/hide)
G. Schirmer / Hal Leonard Cat No. 50486936: Measure 42, both the alto and piano should have A#.

PERFORMED BY:
Bel Voce (Teresa Bowers) - Harrisburg, PA
Biggar Singers - Biggar, SCOTLAND
Carroll College Choirs - Helena, Montana
Choir of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church (James Frazier) - St. Paul, MN
Choir of King's Chapel (Heinrich Christensen) - Boston, MA
Church of St Andrew, Adult Choir (Amelia LeClair) - Newtonville, MA
Ensemble of the North (Patrick McDonough) - Minneapolis, MN
Magnum Chorum (Ralph Johnson) - Minneapolis, MN
Monteverdi Master Chorale - Stevens Point, Wisconsin
New Amsterdam Singers (Max Blum, assistant conductor) - New York, New York
Oriana Consort (Walter Chapin) - Cambridge, MA
Pacific Lutheran University Chorale (Brian Galante) - Tacoma, Washington
Paris Singing Adventure (Mark Shapiro) - Paris, FRANCE
Philadelphia Singers (David Hayes)
Port Washington High School Concert Choir - Port Washington, WI
Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers (Ann Bunyan) - Loveland, CO
Rudsambee Company of Singers - Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
Schola Nocturna (Amelia LeClair) - Newton, MA
St. Mary's Choir (Patrick O'Shea) - Winona, Minnesota
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Concert Choir (Sean Burton) - Lincoln, NE
Valborgkoor (Árpád Schermann) - The Netherlands
Vox Humana (Wolfgang Ziegler) - Zonta, AUSTRIA
West Genessee High School Chorale (Anthony Alvaro) - West Genessee, NY

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