The Nicene Creed
Ever since I heard Karl Jenkin’s Stabat Mater at Pasadena Presbyterian a couple weeks ago, I’ve been inspired to work on my “Creed”.
Actually, I should call it “Credo” now since I decided to do it all in Latin.
It is for SSAATTBB choir, organ, brass quintet, and percussion. I figure I probably don’t have the luxury of a full symphony orchestra. And since I’m a practical person, and actually want to have this work performed someday, I’ll remain content with smaller forces.
There’s still an awful lot you can do with organ, brass quintet, and percussion, though. And the challenge of any good piece of art is working within certain boundaries.
No one has commissioned me to write this piece. I’m still not sure if and when it will be performed. But I feel compelled to write it.
I’ve been working on it off and on for several years. Mostly off. Which is why I never finished it. But now I feel its time has come.
I completed the first movement this week, though I’ve learned to be a bit hesitant when I say, “completed.” (I have an incessant need to tweak. I think I’ve “completed” this piece about four times already.)
So… anyway, I’m now working on the second movement in earnest. I’m in the “sketch” phase, spending time with the lyrics and allowing them to suggest melodic material. I’ve already decided on how to set most of the lyrics for the second movement. Just a few more phrases here and there to work on.
Then it will be time to begin fleshing out harmonic material, tonal centers, interludes, etc. It is a different compositional process writing choral music than instrumental music. I’ll talk more about this in a future blog post.
