BELOVED SON (1978)
“Beloved Son” is included on the 2002 recording “Classical Brubeck” with Dave Brubeck, London Voices, and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Russell Gloyd.
OVERVIEW
Beloved Son is an Easter oratorio by Dave Brubeck. The oratorio was commissioned by the American Lutheran Church Women for its sixth triennial national convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The text, from scripture and poetry by Lutheran minister Herbert Brokering (1926–2009) was adapted by Iola Brubeck. Brokering said in a Minnesota Public Radio interview in 1978:
“I tried to put something together that was round—east, west, north, south, sky, and earth. I wrote an entire round piece once … I thought iambic pentameter, and I wondered if I could cradle it in Longfellow’s “Song of Hiawatha” … I wrote it so that sometimes you could sing it from the top down, from the bottom up, and from the center out. … I wanted to make it flexible. That’s the way I think … I do not think from the top down or from left to right. I think from the center out and back. I think cyclically.”
The work is divided into three parts—I. Abba, Father; II. Eli; and III. Rabboni—and scored for mixed chorus, women’s chorus, baritone soloist (Jesus), soprano soloist (Mary), and full orchestra with optional jazz improvisation. Its use of chorales and counterpoint imitates the style of J.S. Bach.
DETAILS
(1978) 40 min.
Beloved Son: An Easter Oratorio in three parts
I. Abba, Father
II. Eli
III. Rabboni
(IV. Jesus Meet Us in the Center - premiere only)
INSTRUMENTATION
Mixed chorus
Women’s chorus
Baritone soloist (Jesus)
Soprano soloist (Mary)
Full orchestra with optional jazz improvisation
(Reduced orchestration available: 3 fl, 4 hrn, hrp, timpani, perc, organ)
MUSIC
Dave Brubeck
TEXT
Scriptural text and poetry of Lutheran minister Herbert Brokering (1926–2009) adapted by Iola Brubeck.
COMMISSION
Commissioned by The American Lutheran Church Women.
PREMIERE
August 9, 1978, Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN. For the National Convention of the American Lutheran Church Women. Bethlehem Lutheran Church Choir, Carillon Choristers, LeRoy Lehr(bartione), Marilyn Sieber (mezzo-soprano), Dave, Darius, Chris, and Dan Brubeck, and the ALCW Convention Orchestra with Richard Sieber conducting.
PURCHASE & LICENSING
For more information contact Derry@BrubeckMusic.com