Angels Also Die
2013
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SKU: PE.EP72501
2013. Composed by Geoffrey Poole. Choral Works (inc. Oratorios). Modern. Choral Score. Duration 00:06:00. Edition Peters #EP72501. Published by Edition Peters (PE.EP72501).ISBN 9790577007366.
Composed for the New Bristol Voices in January 2013, Angels Also Die has no text, only phonemes and linguistic fragments integral to the music, or naturalistic as in the central 'vocality snowstorm'.
"It is as though we are overhearing voices of the dead, with the feeling intense, yet disembodied and materially incomprehensible. From a theological point of view, within Christian tradition, my title is crazy: an Angel is an immortal being who brings messages and makes his meaning absolutely clear. But in everyday life we call good people angels: my father on his deathbed described my mother thus to his oldest friend (both men atheist). We also have guardian angels, without necessarily understanding their advice.
The composer Jonathan Harvey, who was an inspiring teacher, mentor, and good friend to me, died in December 2012 and this music was written in his memory the following month. Jonathan leaned towards Buddhism, wherein the beings that correspond to angels are devas, who exist at a level of superior consciousness and behaviour, as did Jonathan, radiating tranquillity, insight, and love. He dies, but through the resonance of his being, he lives.
Listen, then, to the fragmentary voices of the unseen multitude who surround us." -- Geoffrey Poole, 2013