Hands by Z. Randall Stroope 4-Part - Sheet Music

SKU: CF.CM9811

ISBN 9781491168608. UPC: 798408100551. Key: Bb major,c major. English.

In this powerful work, Stroope conveys the remarkable story of Helen May Martin through his own poetic lenses. He felt it important to focus on Helen’s incessant courage and desire to dominate every hurdle – demonstrated by the piano’s unyielding rhythmic piano lines. The words, “touch, feel, sense, and know” – like rotating planets around Helen’s life and passion – were anchors to her joy and fortitude to mount any challenge.
Touch Feel Sense Know Under the decree of fate’s circumstance I look without seeing and hear without listening. Now my senses three in synchronized dance Follow a new cadence of knowing and becoming. My hands in celestial-like tapestry, Weave rhythms’ language in brilliant synergy. Touching, feeling, sensing, and grasping the mystery Of each finger in unrestrained poetry. With your hand on mine, notes vibrated inner space At first in disguise, then a language of touch was born - An eternal symphony spoken in divine whispers. This harp of broken strings is now radiance transformed! Touch Feel Sense Know ZRS Hands embrace and Hands that help and Hands that reach and Hands that change and Hands that hold and Hands create and Hands that love and Hands that teach and Hands that pray and Hands unite and Hands that comfort Hands console and Hands surrender Hands include and Hands that serve and Celebrate! The Story Behind the WorkHelen May Martin, born December 18, 1893, was an American pianist. Helen Keller called Martin, "the most accomplished deaf and blind person in the world." Blind and deaf from childhood, it became immediately apparent that Martin would not be defined by her lack of sight and hearing. At an early age, she began leaning against the piano as her cousins took lessons so that she could feel the vibrations. She later said, "Music is a vibrational expression of the soul in harmony with God." Martin's mother taught her music by touching Helen's palms and playing while her daughter's hands were under her hands to indicate the feel and sound of notes. She was taught the different note values by touching beans - a whole note was represented by four beans, a half note by two beans, and a quarter note by one bean. Helen listened to live radio broadcasts while holding an empty metal can in her hands to capture the vibrations. She later attended music conservatories in Wichita and Cincinnati, her mother interpreting the spoken instruction into hand signs in Helen's palms. She began giving public concerts in 1922, and toured and performed in cities across the United States for over 20 years. Helen collected sheet music in braille and other "raised" print systems, and memorized hundreds of classical compositions. Writing of "HANDS"Finding a serious text about hands, face, or other very specific part of the body, and then "connecting" that to a real-life human experience or drama posed a two-fold challenge. After researching hundreds of ideas and texts, and with little acceptable results, I decided to convey the remarkable story of Helen May Martin through my own poetic lenses (though I am generally skeptical of composers freely assuming the mantle of a poet). I also felt it important to focus on Helen's incessant courage and desire to dominant every hurdle - demonstrated by the composition's unyielding rhythmic piano and vocal lines. The words "touch, feel, sense, and know" - like rotating planets around Helen's life - were the key to her joy and life's work.About the ComposerZ. Randall Stroope is an American composer and conductor. His composition teachers were Normand Lockwood and Cecil Effinger, both students of Nadia Boulanger, the famous French teacher (and student of Gabriel Fauré). Randall is the artistic director of two international summer music festivals, is an honorary board member of the National Association of Italian Choral Directors, and has conducted in 25 countries. He has directed over 40 times at Carnegie Hall, and is a frequent conductor at other prestigious concert venues. Randall has 195 published works, and his music can be heard on Spotify, YouTube and other platforms, including his website (www.zrstroope.com).