Revelation of new life (op. 8, 1953)
Advent cantata for alto solo, mixed choir and chamber orchestra
Antiphon I, Choral I, Psalmodie, Choral II, Antiphon II, Choral III
Alto solo, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (2 oboes (1 also english horn), 2 bassoons, 1 trumpet in C, 2 violas, 2 celli, 1 double bass)
Duration: 18 minutes
Helmtrude Kraft | Chamber Choir of the Freiburg State Academy of Music | Members of the Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra | Franz Stemmer
A/B: Title: "Offenbarung neuer Lebens" for mixed choir, alto solo + chamber orchestra / Antiphon I - Length: 52 pages / 58 pages - Date: comp. in Oct. 1953 / Psalmody 2.Oct.53 / Chorale II 3.10.53 - Location:
Schott Music
Score ED 21795 / ISMN: 979-0-001-19851-6
Piano score ED 21795-10 / ISMN: 979-0-001-19852-3
Parts ED 21795-71 / ISMN: 979-0-001-19853-0
Antiphon I (Alto Solo and Choir) 3'30''
Choir: God made mankind for immortality and he made them the immage of his very self. (Wisdom 2,23)
Alto: For you have made him little lower than the heavenly beings and have crowned him with glory and majesty.
You gave him charge over the works of your hands, you have put all things under his feet. (Psalm 8; 6,7)
Choir: God made mankind for immortality and he made them the immage of his very self. (Wisdom 2,23)
Choral I (Choir)
You see, oh God the anxious fear
of mankind's tribulation;
when will the promised Christ appear
the longed-for consolation?
When, Lord, our cry in heaven is heard,
your heart in love inspiring.
Send down to us your Son, your Word,
the joy of our desiring,
the jewel of our admiring.
God Father hears in heav'n above
His children’s woe-filled crying;
The Holy Spirit grieves in love,
For sinners’ pardon sighing.
God’s only Son speaks: Father, hear,
My heart to help is burning;
Send me to those that live in fear,
My throne in heaven spurning,
Their woes to blessing turning.
(Text: Bill Buchanan after "Aus hartem Weh die Menschheit klagt'", ca. 1525; Melody after Michael Vehes Gesangbuch, Leipzig 1537)
Psalmodie (Choir)
Will you not yourself revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your gracious mercy, Lord,
and grant us salvation.
Listen, my heart, what God the Lord speaks to you:
Truely, the Lord speaks peace,
unto his people, his faithful,
those who seek him with hearts true and willing.
His salvation is near for each one who fears him.,
God's own great glory will in our land than be dwelling.
The Lord will grant us goodness and his bounty
and our land shall yield its fruit in plenty.
(Psalm 85;7-10 and 13)
Choral II (Choir)
Sing, Christians! Hope is nearing
in this rich time of grace,
and see in Christ appearing
the glory of God's face.
He comes in humble birth,
yet powers and strongholds shaking,
and every shackle breaking
of Satan's rule on earth.
You sticking folk, sore grieving,
who in these evil days
press bravely on, believing,
on unlit roads and ways,
be yet of heart-felt cheer,
give praise to God in singing,
set earth and heaven ringing
to Him, your King, so dear.
Soon dawns the blessed morrow
from heaven's praise-fill'd bourne;
to comfort those in sorrow,
with joy for those that mourn.
He is a helper strong;
keep lamps and torches burning,
and watch for Him with yearning,
the time will not be long.
(Text: Bill Buchanan after Michael Schirmer, 1640; Melody: Johann Crüger, 1640)
Antiphon II (Alto Solo and Choir)
Alto: The old things have passed away, all things are become new. (2. Kor. 6, 18)
Choir: Grace have you shown, oh Lord, blessing land and people, Jacob's fortunes restoring. (Psalm 85,1)
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as in the beginning, is now and shall be, world without end, amen.
Alto: The old things have passed away, all things are become new.
Choral III (Choir)
Wake, awake, for night is flying,
The watchmen on the heights are crying:
Awake, Jerusalem, at last!
Midnight hears the welcome voices
And at the thrilling cry rejoices;
Come forth, ye virgins, night is past;
The Bridegroom comes, awake;
Your lamps with gladness take;
Alleluia! / And for His marriage feast prepare
For ye must go and meet Him there.
Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is springing;
She wakes, she rises from her gloom;
For her Lord comes down all glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious.
Her Star is risen, her Light is come.
Ah come, Thou blessèd One,
God’s own belovèd Son:
Alleluia! / We follow till the halls we see
Where Thou hast bid us sup with Thee.
Now let all the heavens adore Thee,
let men and angels sing before Thee,
With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone;
Of one pearl each shining portal,
Where, dwelling with the choir immortal,
We gather round Thy dazzling throne;
No vision ever brougth,
No ear hath never caught;
Such great glory; / Therefore will we eternally
Sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee.
(Text and Melody: Philipp Nicolai, 1599)
Südwestfunk commissioned the young Freiburg composer Bertold Hummel to write the music for the Catholic morning service on 1 Advent. The work for mixed choir, alto solo and chamber orchestra, entitled"Offenbarung neuer Lebens"(Revelation of new life), was first broadcast on this occasion in Südwestfunk's first programme. Its six movements, each of which introduces or follows on from the spoken word of the scripture reading or address, are based on texts from the"German Psalter" in Romano Guardini's translation. In the austere clarity of its tonal language, the liturgical style that Hummel has taken up since his mass premièred in Donaueschingen the previous year appears here even more condensed into something unique. The melodic substance, which is largely based on old church tonal "psalm tones", is processed in strict lines, whereby certain unmistakable influences of late Stravinsky are happily combined with forms of polyphonic chorale arrangements. "Antiphons" for choir, alto solo and instruments alternate with purely accompanied choral movements and the choral psalmody ("Willst du uns nicht wieder Leben schenken") over an orchestral passacaglia. The strictly imitative chorus "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" concludes the work, which is characterised by its sacred attitude and, with its austere tonality, also proves to be excellently suited to radio. The soloistic chamber orchestra with two oboes and two bassoons, a trumpet mostly used in a cantus firmus style and five low solo strings (without violins) contributed significantly to this. Helmtrude Kraft (alto), a chamber choir from the Freiburg State Academy of Music and members of the Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Professor Franz Stemmer contributed to the clearly profiled rendition. Bn.
The depth of expression in this Advent cantata is still captivating even after more than fifty years. The lively rhythms and harmonic excesses make the movement dense, but still audible. Hummel pays attention to the nuances of the text. His recourse to baroque forms such as the passacaglia does little to detract from this. He does not rehash musical history; on the contrary, such reminiscences arise inevitably from the work itself.
The Revelation of New Life is an exciting cantata, created in a time of searching for new forms of expression in the middle of the last century, but which has lost none of its vitality and topicality to this day.
Markus Roschinski
Sources: Antiphon I + II, psalmody: Romano Guardini: Deutscher Psalter. After the Latin edition of Pope Pius XII, commissioned by the German bishops; Munich, Kösel-Verlag, 1950 / Chorale I: Text: c. 1525; melody after Michael Vehe's hymnal, Leipzig 1537 / Chorale II: Text: Michael Schirmer, 1640; melody: Johann Crüger, 1640 / Chorale III: Text and melody: Philipp Nicolai, 1599
Suggestion for the programme of an Advent celebration with the cantata "Revelation of new life":
Antiphon I
a) Reading: Genesis 1, 26f; 2, 16f; 3, 1-7; 9; 11 6-19
Chorale I
b) Address 1st part
Psalmody
c) Reading: Isaiah 35, 1-10
Chorale II
d) Address 2nd part
Antiphon II
e) Reading: Secret Revelation 21, 1-8
Chorale III