Joan of Arc – The End, The Beginning
Our Laetare concert and the premiere of “Joan of Arc” on Friday, March 24, 2017, 7:30 pm at St. Boniface Catholic Church, was wonderful! Thanks to the friends, and family, that made it to the concert. Here is the video recording from that performance:
Joan Of Arc – The End, The Beginning was written for the same orchestration as Fauré’s Requiem (the large orchestra version). So if you are planning a concert of Fauré’s Requiem with orchestra, you might consider including this piece.
2 Bassoons
4 Horns
2 Trumpets
3 Trombones
Timpani
Harp
(optional soprano solo. While the voice adds a powerful and poignant component, the piece is complete and works just fine without the vocal solo. But don’t tell your sopranos that!)
Solo violin
(optional violin section)
1st and 2nd Violas
1st and 2nd ‘Cellos
Bass
Here are the program notes:
This piece starts as Joan of Arc is sentenced to death by burning at the stake.
We are horrified and angry. Our heads spin as she is taken away. But this scene recedes as a new and apparently discordant violin note takes our attention into Joan’s mind. In fact, we soon realize that it is not discordant, but the first truly peaceful beauty we have heard. We are not going to witness the exterior horror, but her inner communion.
Her devotion becomes inflamed.
But then it too recedes from us and we are left in our ordinary lives, enriched by having touched an extraordinary soul. Joan sings:
“I place trust in God, my creator, in all things; I love Him with all my heart
When I hear this voice, I feel such great joy that I wish I could always hear it!
I ask you priests of God, to please say a Mass for my soul’s salvation.
I beg all of you standing here to forgive me the harm that I may have done you. Please pray for me.
Hold the crucifix up so I may see it until I die.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!”
This piece starts as Joan of Arc is sentenced to death by burning at the stake.
We are horrified and angry. Our heads spin as she is taken away. But this scene recedes as a new and apparently discordant violin note takes our attention into Joan’s mind. In fact, we soon realize that it is not discordant, but the first truly peaceful beauty we have heard. We are not going to witness the exterior horror, but her inner communion.
Her devotion becomes inflamed.
But then it too recedes from us and we are left in our ordinary lives, enriched by having touched an extraordinary soul. Joan sings:
“I place trust in God, my creator, in all things; I love Him with all my heart
When I hear this voice, I feel such great joy that I wish I could always hear it!
I ask you priests of God, to please say a Mass for my soul’s salvation.
I beg all of you standing here to forgive me the harm that I may have done you. Please pray for me.
Hold the crucifix up so I may see it until I die.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!”
Lyrics taken from:
http://www.stjoan-center.com
Saint Joan of Arc Center
Albuquerque, N.M.
Virginia Frohlick – Founder
http://www.stjoan-center.com
Saint Joan of Arc Center
Albuquerque, N.M.
Virginia Frohlick – Founder
Here is a video of the MIDI version with scrolling sheet music:
St. Boniface church:
