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About the Composer

Carol Barnett

Carol Barnett writes audacious and engaging music. She is known for breaking the mold with meter changes, differing tonal centers, unusual instrument combinations, and her love of fast tempi. Despite these typical thumbprints, Barnett’s works are diverse, uncovering the needs of each piece and each text with her characteristic integrity. Carol’s varied catalog includes works...

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Carol Barnett (Beady Eyes)

One Equal Music

Name: One Equal Music
SKU: BE-005
Availability: InStock

Carol Barnett

Repeated declarations and extended techniques turn the text into a multitude of voices that build to a series of climaxes culminating in a glorious Amen.

Choral

tb choir

a cappella

Difficulty: 4

Duration: 3-5 min.

BE-005

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TTBB div. a capella

Barnett carefully depicts the pairs of opposites and then musically resolves them into one perfect
whole. Each resolution rises to a new level so that final concept, “eternity,” bursts forth at the point of highest tension. The final doxology and Amen begins this rising trajectory again, this time finally wending its way back through foreign keys to a joyous conclusion in its beginning C major.

Composer’s Notes

In setting John Donne’s sermon text, I was intrigued by the concept of opposing ideas resolving to a higher level, a world beyond opposition. How might it be expressed in music, this no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no foes nor friends, but one equal communion; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity? And what might have been Donne’s state of mind
as he delivered these words – perhaps a sort of spiritual exaltation? The music uses word painting to achieve a series of mounting climaxes depicting these heavenly attributes – light, music, communion, eternity – and finally, amen.

– Carol Barnett

Text

Bring us, O Lord God, at our Last awakening, into the house and gate of heaven to enter into that gate and dwell
in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal Light: no noise nor silence, but one
equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no foes nor friends, but one equal communion; no
ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity; in the habitation of the glory and dominion, world without end.
Amen.

– Adapted from “A Sermon Preached at White-hall, February 29, 1627” by John Donne, 1572-1631.

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