Archangel Suite – Gabriel
COMPOSER’S NOTE
In 2012 I was very pleased to be asked by Decca Records to write a whole album on the theme of angels. The resulting album – Angel – recorded with the Choir of New College Oxford and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, went straight in at Number One in the UK classical charts.
The Archangel Suite, with texts by my brother Andrew, brings together the four Christian archangels, and I’ve used a different type of solo voice to depict each of them and their nature. Strings, harp and choir add colour and depth to the words of each archangel.
Gabriel, the third movement in the suite, depicts the messenger (sung by a baritone) delivering his world-changing message to Mary with an air of quiet authority. The piece is full of the Christmas spirit and points towards the Annunciation and the very beginning of the Christian faith.
DURATION
4 minutes
CHORUS
SATB
SOLOIST
Baritone
INSTRUMENTATION
Strings & Harp OR Piano
YEAR OF COMPOSITION
2013
PUBLISHER
Novello
SHEET MUSIC
Available from
JW Pepper
Music Room
Music Shop Europe
Orchestral parts available on hire
Email: hire@wisemusic.com
Tel: +44 (0)1284 596 004
Gabriel
Hear the herald of God’s new age,
Hear the hope of good news,
Hear the name above every name,
This name, the prince of all names.
Hear the name of Jesus,
Saviour of the world,
Come and with your hearts and lips adore.
Sweetest Lady, Hear the Word.
Highly favoured, full of grace and love.
A sword will pierce
your own heart and soul,
Your journey will be alone:
You will part in the dark of noon
And by the cold of a tomb.
Then your child shall rise again
And empty will be the tomb.
Jesus is the hope of every dawn.
At his name all knees shall bow
And confess Him King of Glory now.
Hear the herald.
Hear the hope of good news.
Words: Andrew Hawes (1954 – )
