Lux Aurumque
| Lux Aurumque | |
|---|---|
| by Eric Whitacre | |
The composer conducting, in 2007
|
|
| Key | C-sharp minor |
| Genre | choral composition |
| Text | Translation of the poem "Light and Gold", by Edward Esch |
| Language | Latin |
| Composed | 2000 |
| Scoring | 8-part mixed choir a cappella |
Lux Aurumque ("Light and Gold", sometimes "Light of Gold") is a choral composition in one movement by Eric Whitacre. It is a Christmas piece based on a Latin poem of the same name, which translates as "Light, warm and heavy as pure gold, and the angels sing softly to the new born baby".[1] In 2000, Whitacre set a short Latin text for mixed choir a cappella. In 2005, he wrote an arrangement for wind ensemble. The choral version became known through Whitacre's project Virtual Choir in 2009. The piece is also available for men's choir. A performance takes about four minutes.
Contents
History
The inspiration for the work was a short poem in English, "Light and Gold", by Edward Esch (born 1970), which begins with the word "Light" and ends "angels sing softly to the new-born babe".[2] Charles Anthony Silvestri translated this text into Latin for Whitacre, and attempted to render "the original poem into Latin as singably and as sonically beautifully as I could".[3] The piece was composed in 2000 on a commission from the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and dedicated to Jo-Michael Scheibe. It was published by Walton Music in 2001.[4] In 2005, Whitacre adapted it for wind band, a version first performed at the annual conference of the Texas Music Educators Association and dedicated to Gary Green.[5][dead link] He also arranged it for men's choir.[6]
The version for mixed choir is part of Whitacre's project Virtual Choir.[6] The video as a mix of individual recordings by 185 singers from 12 countries caused "a colossal on-line rush in interest" when it was uploaded in 2011.[7] It had been viewed on YouTube more than five million times as of February 2016.[8]
Music
The work in 48 measures is written in C-sharp minor and marked "Adagio, Molto Legato". It is set for SATB; all parts are divided in two for most of the time, a solo soprano is employed in measures 5 to 7, and the soprano is divided in three parts beginning in measure 34. The composer writes in the printed score: "... if the tight harmonies are carefully tuned and balanced they will shimmer and glow". Differently from other works of the composer, the piece is suitable for church services, especially for Christmas.[3] Whitacre's music has been described as "softly spoken, deeply harmonic and tuneful, but making use of unusual rhythms and sound balancing to create highly textured music".[9]
References
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External links
- Lux Aurumque Allmusic
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- On Eric Whitacre’s ‘Lux Aurumque’… phillipcooke.com
- Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir – 'Lux Aurumque' YouTube 2010
- Lux Aurumque virtual choir, karmatube.org
- Eric Whitacre’s YouTube Choir Does 'Lux Aurumque' synthtopia.com 2010
- David Vernier: Whitacre: Light & Gold/Whitacre classicstoday.com 2010
- Andy Gill Album: Eric Whitacre, Light & Gold (Decca) The Independent 17 October 2010
- Fiona Maddocks: Eric Whitacre: Light & Gold – review The Observer 17 October 2010
- Album of the Week / Eric Whitacre's 'Light and Gold' WQXR 10 April 2011
