SKU: A0.548672

Duration: 4:56. Score 5 pg. 44 ms. Solo part: 2 pg. Piano part: 3 pg.

Cantique de Noël

The French composer Adolphe Adam was already famous as a composer of many successful ballets and operas. Then, in the 1840’s he wrote his most famous work - O Holy Night. The original song title was Minuit Chretiens or Cantique de Noël.  Placide Cappeau provided the original song lyrics. The song was first performed in Roquemaure by the opera singer Emily Laurey at midnight mass in 1847. It became very popular among the French, much the way that Silent Night was famous elsewhere. In the 1850’s John S. Dwight, a Unitarian minister and music teacher translated the song into English.  

Adolphe Adam

In his younger years, Adam studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatoire. He also played the timpani in the Conservatoire orchestra. Adam used his savings and borrowed money to open a new opera house - the fourth opera house in Paris in 1847. Unfortunately, the Revolution of 1848 forced him to close. He taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire from 1849 until his death in 1856.

Placide Cappeau

The poet Cappeau was an advocate of the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire.  Voltaire was renowned for criticizing the Catholic church, religious intolerance, and dogma in general. Consequently, Cappeau made the Redeemer figure in his song a kind of reformer of injustices, in particular, the problem of original sin. To begin with, people recognized Cappeau’s theology as eccentric, probably even doubtful.

Theology

In the earlier form of Minuit, the Christ figure descends to intervene with His Father’s plan to punish mankind.  Traditional doctrine pronounces that Christ came from love, not to intervene. This version also declares that Christ appeared to expunge the original sin of Adam. Cappeau removed this part from his poem years later, because he just didn’t believe it.  He preferred to portray Christ as the reformer of disparity and unfairness. Before long, the writer/politician Alphonse de Lamartine referred to the Minuit as the the Marseillaise of religion. Most French churchmen agreed with this idea but certainly did not consider it a tribute.  

 

SKU: A0.949367

Journeying is a new and original composition designed around a long and exciting travel. This piece modulates constantly to show the changing environments of the journey, yet maintains the walking and bouncy pace of the adventurer. This solo is designed to show off the player's ability to perform accurate and clean arpeggios in 10 different major keys, as well as their ability keep the constant walking pace throughout the entire song.

Journeying was selected as the winner for the University of Toledo Young Composers Competition in 2020.

Includes full score and individual solo part.

This piece is also available for the following solo instruments: Oboe, Violin.
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Adam Lenhart (b. 2002) is a University of Michigan student of music theory, composition, voice and organ from Ottawa Lake, Michigan. As a theorist, his areas of study vary widely, including 18th century counterpoint, the early American Sacred Harp tradition and impressionism. As a composer, his music draws inspiration from nature, mathematics and poetry. In 2020 he was awarded the Michigan Music Education Association’s Young Composers of Michigan award, as well as first prize in the University of Toledo Young Composers competition. Lenhart has also participated in numerous ensembles across Michigan, including the MYAF All-State Choir, Tecumseh Pops Orchestra, University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club and the SMTD University Choir. He thoroughly enjoys collaboration with other composers, performers, poets and visual artists. Some of his recent projects include collaborations with individuals from the University of Michigan Chamber Music, History, and Poetry departments.