SKU: H1.C5585ODP

Text: Jack Schrader. Isaiah 11:1 - John 1:29 - John 1:36 - John 4:25 - Revelation 22:20.

Original anthem With original words and music, Jack Schrader expresses a compelling plea for the Messiah to come and fulfill redemption's story. Easily learned, this SATB anthem for Advent creates an appropriate mood for the season of expectation and waiting, with an unforgettable melody in a minor key. This piece comes from Jack Schrader's best-selling Christmas musical of 2008, Go Tell It! The orchestration contains a Conductor's Score and parts for: Piano, Electric Bass, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Trumpets 1, 2 & 3, Horns 1 & 2, E-Flat Alto Sax 1 & 2 (in lieu of Horns 1 & 2), Trombones 1 & 2, Tuba, Percussion, Timpani, Harp, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass.

SKU: A0.1465707

Based on one of only several poems written by my mother, Jewish Holocaust survivor Rita Hoffman of blessed memory (1927–2018), Only from Blood Does Freedom Grow echoes the words of Hatikvah (The Hope), the national anthem of Israel. I have to believe that she wrote this poem around 1948 because of how it is worded. 

I of course knew the source of inspiration for this poem when I reread it not long ago—something I had not done since the 1990s—but its having been inspired by Hatikvah was really driven home to me by a Facebook comment. That comment inspired me to compose a piece in which the opening and closing sections are based on the opening melody of Hatikvah, but in which the middle section is newly composed. 

“Israel was not created in order to disappear - Israel will endure and flourish. It is the child of hope and the home of the brave. It can neither be broken by adversity nor demoralized by success. It carries the shield of democracy, and it honors the sword of freedom.” 
—John F. Kennedy

My mother’s brief memoirs are housed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.  https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn502129

—Stanley M. Hoffman, 25 June 2024
—
Only from Blood Does Freedom Grow 

For so many years a voice sounded in Jewish hearts saying,
“We want to have a home, we want to have a life again.”
Enough blood has already streamed through rivers,
the blood shed by our brothers *[and sisters],
they, who for freedom of strangers and nation died.
Now, the dream we dreamt for a long time has been awakened in us.
We want to ?ght for our state, our country.
The moment that we have been waiting for and been praying for
two thousand years has brought us a spark of hope.
We must not despair, for we are nevertheless Jews.
We must and must want to persevere.
A time will come which itself will become a symbol of our tragedy,
and which will remain forever in our hearts -
a burning ?ame, and a joyful feast.   
—Rita Hoffman (1927–2018)
Words: © Copyright 1948 by The Estate of Rita Hoffman.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
—
Instrumentation 

2 Flutes (2 Piccolos)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in Bb
2 Bassoons
 
4 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in Bb
2 Trombones
Tuba

Tam-tam
Timpani

Strings

Duration
ca. 2:30

SKU: A0.533844

A setting of a poem in French by Tristan Corbières (1845-1875) for SATB chorus, and orchestra. The instrumentation is: 2220/2000/timp/3perc/hp/organ/strings. The work may be performed alone or together with the composer's two other owrks for chorus and orchestra (Ciels and Le Bois Amical). This is the score only. The orchestral parts are on rental from the publisher. The chorus part, which contains a piano reduction, is available for sale.

Ronel

Il fait noir, enfant, voleur d'étincelles !
Il n'est plus de nuits, il n'est plus de jours ;
Dors... en attendant venir toutes celles
Qui disaient : Jamais ! Qui disaient : Toujours !

Entends-tu leurs pas ?... Ils ne sont pas lourds :
Oh ! les pieds légers ! – l'Amour a des ailes...
Il fait noir, enfant, voleur d'étincelles !

Entends-tu leurs voix ?... Les caveaux sont sourds.
Dors : Il pèse peu, ton faix d'immortelles :
Ils ne viendront pas, tes amis les ours,
Jeter leur pavé sur tes demoiselles...
Il fait noir, enfant, voleur d'étincelles !

English translation

It is Dark, child, thief of sparks!
There are no longer nights, There are no longer days
Sleep..waiting for those who say never, who say always, to arrive

Do you hear their footsteps? They are not heavy.
Oh, the light steps! Love has wings...
It is Dark, child, thief of sparks!

Do you hear their voices? The tombs are silent.
Sleep, it weighs little, your weight of dried flowers
They will not come, your friends the bears,
to throw their cobblestone on your fireflies
It is Dark, child, thief of sparks!

Translation © 2008 by Paul Wehage

SKU: A0.940132

Instrumental Parts for Into the Depths
-

Scoring:

3.2.2.1 | 2.2.3.1 | Timpani | 5 Percussion | Piano | Harp | Strings

-

You are a knight, who is on a quest by order of the King. You arrive at a desolate cave with orders to kill a vile monster that slumbers within. After what seems like hours, you reach the bottom of the abyss. Nothing is there. A sigh of disappointment exits your body, but when you decide to turn back and exit the cave, an eerie feeling trails down your spine. Something was stalking you, waiting, and watching your every move. Your whole body begins to shake, as your shadow is overcome by the towering beast behind you. Your fight begins…

*Winner of the 2017 UWO Spring Concerto Competition*

Premiered by: University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's University Symphony Orchestra (May 4th, 2017)

Conductor: Dr. Dylan Chmura-Moore

SKU: A0.533845

A setting of a poem in French by Tristan Corbières (1845-1875) for SATB chorus, and orchestra. The instrumentation is: 2220/2000/timp/3perc/hp/organ/strings. The work may be performed alone or together with the composer's two other owrks for chorus and orchestra (Ciels and Le Bois Amical). This is the chorus part, which contains a piano reduction, only. The orchestral parts are on rental from the publisher. The score, is available for sale.

Ronel

Il fait noir, enfant, voleur d'étincelles !
Il n'est plus de nuits, il n'est plus de jours ;
Dors... en attendant venir toutes celles
Qui disaient : Jamais ! Qui disaient : Toujours !

Entends-tu leurs pas ?...
Ils ne sont pas lourds :
Oh ! les pieds légers ! – l'Amour a des ailes...

 Il fait noir, enfant, voleur d'étincelles !
Entends-tu leurs voix ?...
Les caveaux sont sourds.
Dors : Il pèse peu, ton faix d'immortelles :
Ils ne viendront pas, tes amis les ours,
Jeter leur pavé sur tes demoiselles... I
l fait noir, enfant, voleur d'étincelles !

English translation
 It is Dark, child, thief of sparks!
There are no longer nights, There are no longer days
Sleep..waiting for those who say never, who say always, to arrive

Do you hear their footsteps?
They are not heavy.
Oh, the light steps! Love has wings...

It is Dark, child, thief of sparks!
Do you hear their voices? T
he tombs are silent. Sleep,
it weighs little, your weight of dried flowers
They will not come, your friends the bears, t
o throw their cobblestone on your fireflies
It is Dark, child, thief of sparks!
Translation © 2008 by Paul Wehage