He studied at harvard, at the time not a particularly great place for training composers or professional musicians of any sort, most notably with edward burlingame hill, and supplemented this tuition with private lessons from ernest bloch. Hughes s ince its first performance in 1959, randall thompsons frostiana has been a popular part of the american choral repertory. Randall thompson was an american composer noted for his choral works. Mary, mother of god, chinatown, washington dc singers. Randall thompson april 21, 1899 july 9, 1984 was an american composer, particularly noted for his choral works. Thompson wrote that the alleluia is a very sad piece. He was one of the first to incorporate jazz into orchestral works, and his 1932 symphony no. In july 1940, american composer randall thompson was commissioned to write a special alleluia setting for the opening of the berkshire music center in tanglewood, ma.
Since its premiere in 1940, thompson s alleluia has been performed countless times by amateur and professional choirs, giving thompson a fair shot at being the most frequently performed of all american serious comp. He taught at a number of universities and colleges and was director of the curtis institute of music, philadelphia. France had just fallen when thompson got the commission. Alleluia is written by randall thompson and has been dubbed the greatest choral piece ever written. Jul 10, 1984 randall thompson, a composer, conductor and teacher known for choral works that evoke a folksy, patriotic vision of american history and heritage, died yesterday in massachusetts general hospital. Here the composer showed that there was still plenty of great music to be written in the key of d major in 1940. The music of randall thompson canticle distributing. His masterful compositions are all standards in the repertoire. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Someone else also has a resource page on the piece with some great historical background check it out. Buy thompson alleluia satb sheet music 1786 by randall thompson isbn. Alleluia, a short a cappella choral work by the american composer randall thompson that premiered on july 8, 1940, at the berkshire music center now the tanglewood music center, the summer home of the boston symphony orchestra bso, near lenox, massachusetts. The word alleluia has so many possible interpretations. Randall thompson april 21, 1899 july 9, 1984 was an american composer.
Based on extensive archival research, interviews, and a thorough knowledge of his compositions, it is the first fulllength study of the dean of american. Randall thompsons alleluia, composed in 1940, quickly became one of the most popular pieces sung by american choirs. Alleluia, probably the best known and loved of all randall thompson compositions, was written for the opening of the berkshire music center in 1940. To many music lovers, the name randall thompson 20 brings first to mind the lofty sounds of his most famous anthem, based on the single word alleluiawhether heard in church service, choral concert, or academic ceremony such as harvard commencement. American composer randall thompson, best known for his choral alleluia, was born ira randall thompson in new york city. Oct 31, 2006 listen to your favorite songs from alleluia. The name randall thompson is as much a part of choral music as is the voice. Thompson studied at harvard university and later with the composer ernest bloch. Randall thompson s alleluia, composed in 1940, quickly became one of the most popular pieces sung by american choirs. He then attended harvard university, became assistant professor of. Randall thompson choral composer biography cd recordings.
Ira randall thompson april 21, 1899 july 9, 1984 dropped the ira pretty quickly. Alleluia, for a cappella chorus play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. Randall attended the lawrenceville school, he attended harvard university, became assistant professor of music and choir director at wellesley college, received a doctorate in music from the university of rochesters eastman school of music. Rare is the church, school, community, or professional choir that has not sung it. For the piece by randall thompson, see alleluia thompson. Alleluia is a piece for unaccompanied satb chorus by randall thompson. Ttbb choir unaccompanied sheet music book by randall thompson 18991984. Stream alleluia randall thompson sample, a playlist by from desktop or your mobile device.
His notable students included samuel adler, leo kraft, and leonard bernstein. The music in my particular alleluia cannot be made to sound joyous. It can be reasonably assumed that most choral conductors in the united states are at least familiar with the piece. Thompsons most famous work is his alleluia for a cappella chorus, written a few years before he joined the harvard faculty.
To many music lovers, the name randall thompson 20 brings first to mind the lofty sounds of his most famous anthem, based on the single word alleluia whether heard in church service, choral concert, or academic ceremony such as harvard commencement. Alleluia for christmas eve, with jubilus verse has been omitted. Composed over the first five days of july in 1940, it was given its world premiere on july 8 of that year at the berkshire music center at tanglewood under the direction of g. Randall thompson 18991984 was one of americas preeminent choral composers during his lifetime. The story of randall thompsons alleluia revisited carl b. A documented biography of randall thompson chronicles the extraordinary career of a composer, conductor, arts administrator, teacher, and reformer of music curricula. Although american composer randall thompson wrote two operas, three symphonies, and many other choral works, he is far and away best known for his alleluia for chorus. Thompson also wrote choral settings of a number of robert frosts poems frostiana.
Alleluia by schola cantorum of oxford choir, chorus, james burton conductor online at alibris. Why not wind everyone down for the evening with the beautifully peaceful alleluia of american composer randall thompson, born on this day 21 april in 1899. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Alleluia randall thompson performed by octarium on vimeo. Randall thompson 18991984, one of the twentiethcenturys most admired and frequently performed cho ral composers, also made significant contributions to instrumental music.
A randall thompson tribute to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. What differs is the tone in which it is sung, and the stichera psalm verses which are intoned by the reader. If you wish to be among them, lets purchase this book alleluia satb, by randall thompson by downloading guide on web link download in this site. No work of thompson s, however, earned in equal measure the incredible celebrity accorded to his alleluia 1940.
Based upon some encounters of lots of people, it remains in truth that reading this alleluia satb, by randall thompson could help them to make better option and also provide more encounter. Apr 21, 2018 why not wind everyone down for the evening with the beautifully peaceful alleluia of american composer randall thompson, born on this day 21 april in 1899. Celebrating the 71st anniversary of randall thompsons alleluia, first performed on july 8, 1940 at the berkshire music center at tanglewood under. Thompson s father was an english teacher, and he was reared in an environment that emphasized excellence in matters of academics. Alleluia by randall thompson 18991984 octavo sheet music. Since 1940, this classic of classics has become one of the nations mostoften performed choral works. Thompson composed three symphonies and numerous vocal works including americana, the testament of freedom, frostiana, and the peaceable kingdom, inspired by edward hickss painting.
So, instead, thompson delivered something soft, slow, and mournfulsounding thompson himself said that it is. The story of randall thompson s alleluia revisited carl b. He attended harvard university, became assistant professor of music and choir director at wellesley college, and received a doctorate in music from the university of rochester school of music. Expecting a piece that would be a joyful choral fanfare, the center received instead this masterpiece of introspection. But his was not the triumphant, celebratory d major of handels alleluia chorus from messiah. He studied at harvard, at the time not a particularly great place for training composers or professional musicians of any sort, most notably with edward burlingame hill, and supplemented this. More information about randall thompson can be found on wikipedia, thorpe music company, and harvard magazine. Thompson also wrote choral settings of a number of robert frosts poems frostiana, and they would make for fine homeschool listening as well. Thompsons father was an english teacher, and he was reared in an environment that emphasized excellence in matters of academics.
Jan 07, 20 recorded live october 2012 as part of the americanenglish masters concert location. The craft of randall thompson, robert frost, and frostiana john c. There may be either one or two alleluias, depending upon the number of. At the conclusion of his lecture, schmidt signed copies of his new book the story of randall thompsons alleluia revisited. Randall thompson composer 18991984 play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. His most popular and recognizable choral work is his anthem, alleluia, commissioned by serge koussevitzky for the opening of the berkshire music center at tanglewood. Once youve mastered this, youll have truly stunning performance piece. A randall thompson tribute by the michael oneal singers now. He taught for nearly twenty years at harvard university and infused a uniquely american element into classical music. The alleluia is paired with the prokeimenon which preceded the reading of the apostle. Recorded live october 2012 as part of the americanenglish masters concert location. At the conclusion of his lecture, schmidt signed copies of his new book the story of randall thompson s alleluia revisited. Randall thompsons alleluia, performed by voices of ascension, dennis keene, conductor, is featured on cd 2 in the wrti 60th anniversary classical 3cd set. Alleluia randall thompson randall thompson was one of our countrys great men of music.
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