hope is not a language the dark voices understand_Score_Draft 5_28_23_MMJENSEN

"hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
Moriah Margaret Jensen
Instrumentation
Flute 1-2
Oboe
Engish horn
Bassoon 1-2
Bb Clarinet 1-3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1-2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet 1-3
Horn 1-4
Trombone 1-2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Cello (opt)
Piano
Harp
Glockenspiel
Vibraphone
Xylophone
Marimba
Chimes
Cymbals (crash, suspended)
Field Drum
Tom-Toms
Bass Drum
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

"hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
Program Notes:
This piece is ultimately about hope. It's a proclamation in the face of darkness and hardship that goodness always wins, and
that light always overcomes the dark. I began writing this piece as the final project in my college orchestration class. That semester, we
were really starting to get back to some kind of "normal" after the COVID-19 pandemic, and when given this project, I started to reflect
on the past few years. I thought about how difficult that time had been, and that led me to consider other hardships I've endured personally.
As a person of faith, this turned my thoughts to my relationship with Jesus and how my faith has given me the strength to push forward
with the hope that things will get better. I started writing this piece with these concepts in mind: hardship and hope.
I struggled to write this piece at the start. I had so many ideas of what I could do and was overwhelmed by the options, but I knew I
wanted this music to proclaim hope. When I think of hope, I think of my faith and of music, especially music that redirects my thinking
away from difficulty and towards goodness. Often, these are hymns, especially the hymn by Horatio Spafford "It Is Well." I wanted to
incorporate this tune into this piece as it has been an anthem of hope and strength for me throughout my life. Though not always obvious,
the tune is woven into the harmony and counterpoint of the music and concludes the piece with a partial statement of the "It Is Well"
melody. Once I had chosen this route and to use this tune, the music began to take its true shape.
Though this piece began without a title, I knew I wanted it to be something that directed listeners' attention to the hope it's about. For
me, that hope is hope in Jesus and the Gospel. For others, that hope looks differently. Yet, for everyone, I believe that hope is a powerful
thing. Keeping one's focus on hope and the knowledge – the assurance – that light always comes in the morning and that goodness
always wins out can sometimes be the only life raft to hang onto when facing an ocean of hardships. The title of this piece comes from
a book foreword written by singer/song-writer/story-teller Andrew Peterson, whose words speak to this idea beautifully. There, he says,
"The gospel gives me hope, and hope is not a language the dark voices understand." He wrote these words as an artist who often feels
ashamed that he can't do his inspiration justice, but knows that the message’s power can surpass his own limitations. I resonate with
his feelings, but what struck me most was the deep, yet simple truth of his words; where there is hope, there's light, and the darkness
cannot survive the light. The "dark voices'' cannot understand the truth I believe in; they have no power when I focus on hope. My wish
is that no matter what belief one holds when they hear this piece, they resonate with this message of hope, that they can, for even a
moment, feel the power hope holds in a world filled with darkness. Music helps to remind me of this hope, and I hope it does for
others as well.
I would like to dedicate the first public performance of this piece (May 26, 2023) to the members of the Gustavus Wind Orchestra,
people who have seen me through some of the hardest of circumstances and inspired me to find the light when I felt lost in the dark. This
ensemble is no stranger to difficult circumstances, but I have seen these people push through with grace, perserverance, and kindness.
GWO - your music-making, encouragement, and community mean the world to me and you have made me a better musician and person.
For this, I am eternally grateful. This ensemble is special, and I hope you never let the "dark voices" overshadow the hope your music
brings to the world.
Performance Notes:
I think of this piece in three larger portions: the beginning is measure 1 through Rehearal C, the middle is Rehearsal C through D, and the
end is Rehearsal D through the last measure. In the beginning, be sure that the English horn solo can be heard as this carries the main theme
of the entire piece. If an English horn is unavailable, this could be transposed for alto saxophone. The bassoon solo at Rehearsal B could be
doubled for volume and intensity if needed. In the middle section, there isn't necessarily a "primary" voice that needs to be heard. It's meant to
resemble the chaos the "dark voices" create, so there isn't a specific voice that needs to be heard in this section. Take your time waiting before
beginning Rehearsal D. In the end portion, there are two primary themes. Theme 1 is the original melody from the English horn solo earlier in
in the piece and Theme 2 is the "It is Well" melody. Both should be strong with Theme 2 only slightly less intense than Theme 1. Any of the
chime notes that can be doubled from D to the end could be if desired.
About the Composer:
At the time of this composition, Moriah Margaret Jensen is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with a degree in music education.
She was an oboist in the Gustavus Wind Orchestra and Gustavus Chamber Winds, and was also a member of several other
campus ensembles. Following student teaching, she will teach in Minnesota and continue writing music.
Music has always been a significant part of Jensen's life whether in a band room or in a church. Her faith plays a
large role in influencing her music, and she hopes that above all else, her music brings people joy and helps them reflect on the beautiful
things of life, no matter where they are at when they hear it. For more about the composer, visit mmjensen1118.wixsite.com/mmjensenmusic
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

Score
"hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
Flute 1, 2
Oboe
English Horn
Bassoon 1, 2
Clarinet in B 1
Clarinet in B 2
Clarinet in B 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Sax 1, 2
Tenor Sax
Baritone Sax
Horn in F 1, 2
= 66
1.
solo
A
Moriah Margaret Jensen
Horn in F 3, 4
Trumpet in B 1
Trumpet in B 2
Trumpet in B 3
Trombone 1, 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Cello
Piano
Harp
Timpani
Glockenspiel
Vibraphone
Xylophone
Marimba
Chimes
Cymbals
Field Drum
Tom-Toms
Bass Drum
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

"hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
5
Fl.
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
Hn.
Hn.
16
solo
16
solo
3 3 3
3
tutti
3
3
B
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3 3
3
3
3
B Tpt. 1
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
16
16
solo
solo
solo
tutti
Pno.
Hp.
16
3
Timp.
Glk.
Vib.
Xyl.
16
Mrb.
Chm.
16
16
Cym.
16
F.Dr.
16
Toms
B. Dr.
16
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

6 "hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
Fl.
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
Hn.
Hn.
B Tpt. 1
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
Pno.
Hp.
Timp.
Glk.
Vib.
Xyl.
Mrb.
Chm.
Cym.
F.Dr.
Toms
B. Dr.
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
3 3 3
tutti
suspended cymbal
C
rubato
a tempo
3
3
broad, but with separation
let ring
div.
tutti
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

"hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
7
Fl.
36
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
Hn.
36
Hn.
B Tpt. 1
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
36
36
Pno.
36
Hp.
Timp.
Glk.
Vib.
36
Xyl.
Mrb.
36
Chm.
36
Cym.
36
F.Dr.
Toms
36
crescendo poco a poco
B. Dr.
36
crescendo poco a poco
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

Fl.
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
Hn.
Hn.
B Tpt. 1
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
Pno.
Hp.
Timp.
Glk.
Vib.
Xyl.
Mrb.
Chm.
Cym.
F.Dr.
Toms
B. Dr.
8 "hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
let ring after cutoff
let ring after cutoff
let ring after cutoff
let ring after cutoff
D
tutti
div.
E
crescendo poco a poco
no pedal
to crash cymbals
to sus. cym.
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

"hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
9
Fl.
48
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
Hn.
Hn.
B Tpt. 1
48
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
48
48
Pno.
48
Hp.
Timp.
48
Glk.
Vib.
Xyl.
Mrb.
48
continue to roll
Chm.
Cym.
F.Dr.
48
48
48
Toms
B. Dr.
48
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

Fl.
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
Hn.
Hn.
B Tpt. 1
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
Pno.
Hp.
10 "hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
53
53
53
53
53
3 3 3 3
tutti
div.
F
3 3 3 3
div.
bell tones
Timp.
Glk.
53
Vib.
Xyl.
Mrb.
Chm.
Cym.
53
53
53
pedal with discretion, a la bell tones
F.Dr.
Toms
B. Dr.
53
53
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

"hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
11
Fl.
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
56
stagger breathe as needed
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
Hn.
56
Hn.
B Tpt. 1
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
Pno.
Hp.
56
56
56
Timp.
Glk.
56
Vib.
Xyl.
56
Mrb.
Chm.
56
56
to crash cymbals
Cym.
56
F.Dr.
Toms
B. Dr.
56
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

12 "hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
Fl.
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
T. Sx.
60
G
tutti
B. Sx.
Hn.
Hn.
B Tpt. 1
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
60
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
Pno.
Hp.
60
60
60
Timp.
Glk.
60
Vib.
Xyl.
60
Mrb.
Chm.
60
Cym.
F.Dr.
60
60
to sus. cym.
Toms
B. Dr.
60
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

"hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
13
Fl.
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
64
ritardando
H
a tempo
stagger breathe
Hn.
64
Hn.
B Tpt. 1
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
Pno.
Hp.
64
64
64
Timp.
Glk.
Vib.
Xyl.
64
64
Mrb.
Chm.
64
Cym.
64
F.Dr.
64
Toms
B. Dr.
64
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

14 "hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
Fl.
69
Ob.
E. Hn.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1
B Cl. 2
B Cl. 3
B. Cl.
A. Sx.
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
Hn.
69
Hn.
B Tpt. 1
B Tpt. 2
B Tpt. 3
Tbn.
B. Tbn.
Euph.
Tuba
Vc.
Pno.
Hp.
69
69
69
Timp.
69
Glk.
Vib.
Xyl.
let ring
69
Mrb.
Chm.
69
Cym.
69
F.Dr.
69
Toms
B. Dr.
69
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023

"hope is not a language the dark voices understand"
15
© Moriah Margaret Jensen 2023