Memorial

song. Rehearsal was fine, but when we finally sang the song in front of an audience, it was difficult. The 'Kyrie' section was particularly hard for me because of the sheer beauty of the music combined with the chorus and the feelings that the melody evokes inside you. Its something you really can't understand unless you yourself are singing the song. The music alone is so vivid and telling, you can't help but see the events of that day play out in your mind. Personally, I think Mr. Clausen is a musical genius. This compositioin proves it.

in the chorus while the baritone soloist sings. A less experienced chorus may have a little difficulty with this part. You will need a first-rate horn player as there is a short but difficult solo about 2/3 of the way through the performance. Although it is a one movement piece, there are four distinct subsections and many of us agreed that the 4th subsection, the "Kyrie", is one of the most beautiful musical moments ever written. This work can be emotionally hard to take when the part describing the attack is reached. Some of our choir members came very close to tears at our first rehearsal w/ the orchestra. It is a work well worth doing and we would all sing it again in a heartbeat.