Bob Chilcott - Move him into the sun

for upper voices, SATB, and piano (with snare and tenor drums and solo cello) or chamber orchestra This profound setting of poems by Wilfred Owen explores the idea of the sun as a redemptive force. The sense of human connection and vivid imagery of the natural world imbued in Owen's poetry is perfectly conveyed in Chilcott's music, which is rich in highly effective word painting and melodies as visceral as the poetry itself. The first movement, 'Song of Songs', sets the tone for the work, balancing a sense of reverence and solemnity with hopefulness and optimism, and a poignant and moving setting of Futility is a powerful focal point. Chilcott supplements the choral texture to great effect, with snare and tenor drum creating a mood of expectancy in 'Spring Offensive' and a middle movement for tenor and cello soloists that inhabits a stark musical landscape that blossoms harmonically as the soldier tells of the 'fellowships' and 'beauty' they have found.

‘Futility’ (SATB)

‘Futility’ (SATB) Move him into the sun— Gently its touch awoke him once, At home, whispering of fields half-sown. Always it woke him, even in France, Until this morning and this snow. If anything might rouse him now The kind old sun will know. Think how it wakes the seeds— Woke, once, the clays of a cold star. Are limbs, so dear achieved, are sides Full-nerved—still warm—too hard to stir? Was it for this the clay grew tall? —O what made fatuous sunbeams toil To break earth’s sleep at all? for online perusal only 5. Winter Song Extract from ‘Winter Song’ From off your face, into the winds of winter, The sun-brown and the summer-gold are blowing; But they shall gleam again with spiritual glinter, When paler beauty on your brows falls snowing, And through those snows my looks shall be soft-going. Extract from ‘Happiness’ The sun may cleanse, And time, and starlight. Life will sing sweet songs, And gods will show us pleasure more than men’s. Texts from Wilfred Owen: The War Poems, ed. Jon Stallworthy (1935–2014) (Chatto & Windus, 1994). vi

Commissioned by the Trustees of the St Chad’s Music Festival and Shrewsbury Bookfest in memory of Wilfred Owen Move him into the sun 1. Song of Songs Wilfred Owen (1893 –1918) BOB CHILCOTT UPPER VOICES ° ¢ V Bright and warm q = c.80 4 ∑ ∑ ∑ for online perusal only SOPRANO ALTO TENOR BASS ° V 4 ∑ ∑ ∑ B ¢ 4 ∑ ∑ ∑ V Bright and warm q = c.80 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ PIANO { f B 4 ∑ V B t œ J œ œ ‰ Œ œ œ œ UPPER VOICES ° ¢ { 4 V V f When 3 3 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ t œ j œ œ œ œ œ œ œ I a - woke, the glanc-ing day looked gay; The air said: Fare you fleet- ly; you will œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ t œ j œ œ ‰ œ B V B Œ œ œ V B w œ Œ Ó œ œ t œ j œ œ ‰ w Œ œ œ œ œ © Oxford University Press 2018. Text from ‘Wilfred Owen: The War Poems’, ed. Jon Stallworthy (1935 – 2014) (Chatto & Windus, 1994). Printed in Great Britain OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, MUSIC DEPARTMENT, GREAT CLARENDON STREET, OXFORD OX2 6DP The Moral Rights of the Composer have been asserted. Photocopying this copyright material is ILLEGAL.