Orlando Gibbons was a choirboy at Kings College Cambridge and became organist of the Chapel Royal of James I at age 21. Later in his life, he was organist at Westminster Abbey.

This well-known anthem exists in some 30 Renaissance sources, which indicate its popularity. However, few of these sources agree with each other, leaving the modern editor to make their own decisions, particularly regarding text underlay. This resplendent anthem uses an ascending melodic motive as text painting to voices offering praise to God.

This compelling work, with text by lyricist, author, and composer Charles Anthony Silvestri traces the formation of a bell: bronze, mined from the earth, first formed into weapons of war, then melted and recast as a bell to toll for vespers, and eventually pealing out in victory and joy.

I.

I was born in deepest veins of tin and copper cold

The metal blood of mother earth

Mined, melted, mixed,

Forged in fire,

Wrought by arms into arms

Sword and shield and spear!

Cannon clash and clamor,

Dealing Death!

II.

But then I was reborn.

When now my bronze strikes bronze

’Tis not in clash of arms

Or blast of fire,

But to ring the vesper hour,

Or I may toll in requiem

As those who fall asleep

Are gathered back to earth.

III.

And oh! To peal in celebration!

In victory, in festival,

In carillon of joy!

But greater still will be to sing

The dawning of that day

When war shall cease,

And on earth, peace

Everlasting I will ring!

Hsin-Lei received her bachelor’s degree from National Taipei University of the Arts studying in Composition with Dr. Hung, Chung-kuen. She received her masters and doctoral degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Her works have been widely performed in major concert halls including National Concert Hall and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, Werner Hall in Cincinnati, Carnegie Performing Art Center’s Weill Hall in New York, Sam Sung Music Hall in Seoul, Qintai Concert Hall in Wuhan as well as National Performing Art Center,Beijing Concert Hall and Zhong Shan Park Music Hall in Beijing.

The lyrics to Novel Sphere are from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s play, Faust

I am ready,

I am free,

On a novel flight

To cleave the sky.

I am ready,

Program notes by the composer: In Memoriam: MLK is a multi-media tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The concept was developed following the events of 9/11/2001 in New York. Prior to the availability of the internet, I perused numerous recordings of Dr. King’s speeches on cassette tapes in the Northport, NY public library. For this recording, I included excerpts of my favorite passages with background sounds played on an electronic keyboard.

After arriving at GT, I collaborated with SCAD student and GT Chorale member Katy Gardner to include visual images drawn from the Civil Rights era. Today’s performance presents that audio-visual with choral/orchestral accompaniment.

The inspiration for this work derives from my own childhood experience growing up in Illinois with occasional trips to the panhandle of Florida to visit my aunt. While driving through Alabama, I remember encountering signs at water fountains labeled, “Whites Only” and “Colored.” When I moved to Georgia in 1978, I witnessed hooded Klansmen at street intersections in Newnan, Georgia. In our current national climate, I am reminded of Dr. King’s powerful vision...