Genevan Suite, III. "Chorale" - Brenda Portman
Published by SMP in collection Horizons
YouTube Live:
https://youtu.be/KzQGuAezkkc
This is the beautiful setting of Genevan 124 from the newly published Genevan Suite by Brenda Portman.
It is composed as a reflection of the verse, "If God the Lord Were Not Our Constant Help". The text comes from Psalm 124 as set in the Psalter Hymnal to the same hymn, which itself was composed over 450 years ago in year 1562. The brilliant use of compositional style is in tribute to Pavel Chesnokov, who wrote especially beautiful music for Russian Orthodox Church in the early-20th century.
Composer notes reference the use of "warm foundations" as in the sound of Chesnokov's 'Salvation Is Created'. So, no need to overthink registration. But on the large instrument (and given the NeoBaroque build), I did not couple Pos-GT, or use SW Principle or GT Flute. So:
SW: F8(both), V8
CH: P8,F8
GR: P8, SW8
Ped: F16,F8, SW8
I've only recently discovered the music of Brenda Portman and am a big fan. This wonderful work was just published a couple weeks ago -- I'll aim to post the other movements very soon-