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About the Composer
Joe Twist
Graphite Publishing
Hymn of Ancient Lands
Intense, prayerful reflection gives way to bursts of energy, rhythmic intensity, and dance-like passages.
SATB div, S solo, a cappella
Twist’s “Hymn of Ancient Lands” is a macaronic setting of a 7th-century hymn sung in Old English, Latin, and modern English. Scored for soprano solo and divisi chorus, “Hymn of Ancient Lands” is a rich and satisfying musical journey. The Old English alone is sung by the soloist, while the choir sings the two translations, brilliantly treating the same text in three different languages and interpreting the hymn with contrasting musical ideas. Moments of intense, prayerful reflection give way to bursts of energy, rhythmic intensity, and dance-like passages. “Hymn of Ancient Lands” is technically challenging, but eminently musical.
Composer’s Notes
“Hymn of Ancient Lands” is a setting of a fragment of text recorded by Bede known as “Caedmon’s Hymn.” This poem (or hymn) is thought to be the earliest ever recorded poem written in the language of the Angles, the ‘Old English’ of the Anglo Saxons. Upon this basis Caedmon has been designated the patron saint of poets and poetry. The hymn, in its original Anglo Saxon, as well as Latin and modern English vernacular translations, provided the inspiration for this new musical setting for Stephen Layton and the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge. The juxtaposition of these three languages expresses my fascination with viewing history and spirituality through a modern lens, fusing the old with the new by paying homage to the ancient poem and reflecting its significance with my own musical ideas. For the commissioners of this work, it is significant that Caedmon, a shy, humble and deeply religious man, through divine inspiration, and with the encouragement of St Hilda of Whitby, was enabled to express God’s love of creation in song.
“Caedmon’s Hymn” is a universal song in which Caedmon, praises God’s creation of Heaven and Earth, which he calls ‘Middengeard’ (Middle-Earth). Extending upon this, “Hymn of Ancient Lands” expresses adoration of land and nature through a ritualistic musical journey which progresses from sparse and plaintive to energetic and joyful. From a modern point of view, “Hymn of Ancient Lands” expresses Australians’ passion for traveling overseas and exploring many different lands, combined with a deep sense of belonging and respect for our own unique and magnificent landscape.
– Joe Twist, 2020
Text
English Translation
Now we shall praise the Guardian of
heaven’s kingdom, the might of the
architect, and his purpose, the work of the
father of glory as He, the eternal lord,
established the beginning of wonders. For
the children of men He created heaven.
Latin translation
Nunc laudare debemus auctorem regni
caelestis, potentiam creatoris, et consilium
illius facta Patri gloriae: quomodo ille, cum
sit aeternus Deus, omnium miraculorum
auctor exstitit;
qui primo filiis hominum caelum pro
culmine tecti dehinc terram custos humani
generis creavit, omnipotens.
Old English
Nū sċylun herġan hefænrīċaes Uard,
Metudæs maecti end his mōdġidanc,
uerc Uuldurfadur, suē hē uundra ġihuaes,
ēċi Dryctin ōr āstelidæ.
Hē ǣrist sċōp aelda barnum
heben til hrōfe, hāleġ Sċepen.
Thā middunġeard moncynnæs Uard,
ēċi Dryctin æfter tīadæ
fīrum foldu Frēa allmectiġ.
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