Preview: America, the Land of Liberty
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America, the Land of Liberty
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SKU: IZ.CBW2210
Composed by Michael Francis Smith. Score and Parts. 58 pages. Imagine Music - Digital #CBW2210. Published by Imagine Music - Digital (IZ.CBW2210).6.75 x 10.5 inches.
Some years back, during a series of retreats, prayerful reflection on the “servant
passages from the book of the prophet Isaiah (Is. 40-53) coalesced into what would
become an eight-movement cantata entitled: The Servant of Yahweh.
“How Beautiful on the Mountain represents movement three of that larger work - a
Lenten cantata highlighting key aspects of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus,
viewed through the lens of the aforementioned servant passages.
“How Beautiful on the Mountain (from Is.52 ff) attempts to capture in two sections the
joyful vision of God's people being led back to Zion from exile in Babylon. Israel's
deliverer is near, proclaiming peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, leading
Israel back to Jerusalem. The New Testament likewise speaks of deliverance from
bondage – bondage from sin, and healing of the breach between God and humanity. It is
through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus that this deliverance is
accomplished. In both cases, there is cause for great joy.
Musically, movement from the more subdued preface (part 1) to the festive Latin groove
(part 2) conveys the transition from journey to jubilation.
The present rendition, written for SATB choir and piano with optional flute and oboe
marks the latest evolution in the work's arrangement history. The original
accompaniment included guitar, bass, drum, flute and electric violin. However, in 2009,
through a collaboration with bassist/arranger, Perry Orfanella, a full orchestral score was
developed. Most recently, in order to make the piece more accessible to church choirs
and other choral groups, Phil Sims (musician/arranger and partner of Imagine Music
Publishing) reduced the orchestral score and completed the present arrangement for
piano and SATB choir.
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