Product Description
On 31 October 1517, Dr. Martin Luther, according to church custom,
posted a document presenting 95 theses intended for scholarly debate
on the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg. As a teacher, theologian,
and a pastor he found much to be concerned with in the conduct of his
mother, the Church. His intent was to begin a conversation over honest
grievances and to persuade those who would lead to take a path more
consistent with the teachings they espoused.
Spaces of Night takes its impetus from this desire to speak truth to power.
It's music, with no small sympathy towards the tonal language and dialect
of the classic American liturgical tradition, is at times parody and at other
times anti-parody. It's libretto, while created 100 years ago by a celebrated
American author, speaks in our present age to an empire that has lost its way.
Its voice is not one of despair and rage,
but hope for and commitment to the future of the gathered community.
If I should cast off this tattered coat,
And go free into the mighty sky;
If I should find nothing there
But a vast blue,
Echoless, ignorant
What then?
Libretto adapted by the composer
From the lines of Stephen Crane:
The Black Riders and Other Lines (1895) &War is Kind (1899)
This is the full score; A reduction for mezzo and organ is available as another item. The orchestral parts are on rental from the publisher
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.