ALL GOD'S CREATURES op.468 (August 1994)

Commissioned by: Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate their 50th anniversary
Instrumentation: 2(I+II=picc).2.2(II=Ebcl).2 - 2221 - timp - perc(2): tgl/large susp.cym/tam-t/SD/conga/(wind machine)/ratchet/t.bells/2 anvil/cyms/thunder sheet/tamb/BD/whip/glsp/mar/bell tree - pno(=cel) - organ - harp - strings
[Key to Abbreviations]
Note on Lyrics: Text: William Blake, Lord Tennyson, John Bunyan, Robert Browning, Anon, Book of Job, Lewis Carroll, Christina Rossetti, Thomas Hardy (Eng)
Duration: 24 mins
First Performance: Guildford Cathedral 22 and 23 March 1995 The Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra and massed children’s chorus conducted by Howard Blake.
Piano / Vocal score for sale
Vocal score for sale
Full score for hire
Study score for hire
Orchestral parts for hire
CD of a live performance available on request

Movements

• Prologue: A Robin Redbreast in a Cage
  

  An extract from William Blake's 'Auguries of Innocence'

• 1: The Tiger
  

  Poem by William Blake from 'Songs of Experience'

• 2: The Lamb
  

  Poem by William Blake from 'Songs of Innocence'

• 3: The Owl
  

  Poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

• 4: The Snail
  

  Poem by John Bunyan

• 5: Rats
  

  An extract from 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' by Robert Browning

• 6: The Swan
  

  Anon.

• 7: Leviathan
  

  Verses from 'The Book of Job' (from the King James Bible)

• 8: The Crocodile
  

  Poem by Lewis Carroll

• 9: The Swallow
  

  Poem by Christina Rossetti

• 10: The Oxen
  

  Poem by Thomas Hardy

• Epiologue: Hurt No Living Thing
  

  Poem by Christina Rossetti

Notes

Settings of classic texts on the subject of animals. A work suggested by Kathy Atkins, manager of the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra.

Composer's note:

The work begins with an excerpt from William Blake's 'Auguries of Innocence' spoken by children over the sound of the orchestra, leading dramatically into the first song. 'The Tiger' and then to a gentle setting of 'The Lamb'. Tennyson's 'The Owl' is treated sardonically ('warming his five wits') and 'The Snail' of John Bunan very smoothly, featuring a solo violin. 'Rats' are squeaky, noisy and rumbustious, but 'The Swan' follows with grace and peace, led by the harp. The seventh song takes a passage from the Book of Job - 'Leviathan'. Is it a whale or a sea-monster or a dragon?. The music conjures up a picture of a giant whale, using organ, full brass and even a thunder sheet! The eighth song summons up Lewis Carroll's smiling crocodile of the Nile, using conga drums and marimba; then follows 'The Swallow' by Christina Rossetti, a swooping evocation of flight and sun, and 'The Oxen' by Thomas Hardy. The work ends as it began with children speaking over orchestral sounds, now very quiet, the words again by Christina Rossetti, 'Hurt no living thing'.

Performances

8th March 2008	Cantilena Choir and Co-op Concentio Youth Choir, Helen Burrows (piano and violin),soloists tba, Quay Church, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 7.30 A programme of Howard's music in his great-grandfather's Suffolk chapel - Quay Chapel,Woodbridge, including: Pennillion, Walking in the Air, To Sleep, Dances for Piano Duet, A Toccata of Galuppi's, Faith Alone, Holy Mary,Mother Mild, The Duellists Theme (for flute), Dirge for Fidele, Farewell My Gentle Harp, Winterdream, Make-believe. Directed by Helen Burrows.
30th June 2007	Cleveland Philharmonic Choir and Mowbray Orchestra, conductor John Forsyth, 7.30pm, Middlesborough Town Hall A performance coupled with Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana'
16th May 1999	Young People's Chorus, New York, New York, USA
19th April 1997	Mary Erskine and Stewart's Melville Schools choir and orchestra conducted by Helen Mitchell, The Usher Hall, Edinburgh
31st October 1995	Surrey Youth Music & Performing Arts, Surrey County Youth Orchestra, Royal Albert Hall
22nd March 1995	Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra and massed Surrey children's choir conducted by Howard Blake, Guildford Cathedral