Composer

:

Gavin Bryars

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2000

Average_duration

:

6:35

"Super flumina" is a choral work composed by Gavin Bryars in 1988. The piece was premiered on October 22, 1988, at the Festival of Contemporary Sacred Music in Maastricht, Netherlands. The title "Super flumina" is taken from Psalm 137, which speaks of the exiled Israelites weeping by the rivers of Babylon. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is slow and meditative, with the choir singing in unison. The second movement is more lively and rhythmic, with the choir singing in harmony. The third movement returns to the slower, meditative pace of the first movement. The piece is characterized by its use of repetition and layering. The choir sings the same phrases over and over again, gradually building up a complex texture of sound. The repetition creates a sense of timelessness, as if the music is suspended in a moment outside of time. The text of the piece is taken from Psalm 137, as well as from the writings of St. Augustine and St. Ambrose. The text speaks of the longing for home and the pain of exile, themes that are universal and timeless. Overall, "Super flumina" is a powerful and moving work that speaks to the human experience of longing and loss. Its use of repetition and layering creates a sense of timelessness, while its text speaks to the universal human experience of exile and the longing for home.

More....