Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- John McCabe
Shepherd's Dream (2002)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
Programme Note
Sheperd's Dream was written for the 2002 Presteigne Festival, and is dedicated to the Festival's conductor and director George Vass, who asked three composers to write a brief introduction to one of the three parts of Handel's Messiah for a performance that year. He originally asked for fanfares though not necessarily fast or loud, and in the event I chose to draw on the opening theme of 'He shall feed His flock', from towards the end of Part I, and its close relative, the opening theme of 'Behold the Lamb of God' with which Part II commences, and therefore to write a sort of counterpart to the 'Pastoral Symphony' from Part I. I made no attempt whatsoever to emulate Handel's style, feeling somewhat in awe of his great artistry and individuality. I did, however, examine the tonal structure of the work and attempted to make a link between the B flat area of the end of Part I and the G minor with which Part II begins. This being, as it were, a Dream Interlude, it also looks forward to future events in the work.
Scores
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