Composer

:

Lennox Berkeley

Genre

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

04:24

Lennox Berkeley's 'O That I Once Past Changing Were' is a choral work that was composed in 1952. The piece was premiered on 17th December 1952 at the Wigmore Hall in London, by the BBC Chorus conducted by Leslie Woodgate. The work is a setting of a poem by the 17th-century poet Robert Southwell, which reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which explores a different aspect of the poem's themes. The first movement is marked 'Moderato', and begins with a gentle, flowing melody in the upper voices. The choir sings the opening lines of the poem, "O that I once past changing were / Fast in thy Paradise, where no flower can wither". The music gradually builds in intensity, with the lower voices joining in and the harmonies becoming more complex. The movement ends with a quiet, reflective passage in which the choir sings the words "O that I once past changing were" repeatedly, as if lost in thought. The second movement is marked 'Allegro', and is more lively and rhythmic than the first. The choir sings the lines "O that I were an Angel now / To execute thy will", and the music reflects the urgency and energy of the words. The melody is more angular and dissonant than in the first movement, with sudden shifts in harmony and rhythm. The movement ends with a sudden, dramatic chord, as if the choir has been interrupted in mid-flight. The final movement is marked 'Lento', and is the most contemplative of the three. The choir sings the lines "O that I might repent and pray / For all my sins past", and the music is slow and mournful. The harmonies are rich and complex, with the voices weaving in and out of each other. The movement ends with a quiet, peaceful passage in which the choir sings the words "O that I might repent and pray" repeatedly, as if lost in prayer. Overall, 'O That I Once Past Changing Were' is a beautiful and moving work that reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The music is rich and complex, with beautiful harmonies and melodies that perfectly capture the mood of the poem. It is a testament to Lennox Berkeley's skill as a composer that he was able to create such a powerful and moving work from a simple poem.

More....