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- Kenneth Leighton
Fantasy on a Chorale (1979)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
Programme Note
This work was composed in 1979 to a commission from the American violinist Jean Harmon and first performed in Washington DC in May of this year.
The Chorale Es ist genug is by the 17th century composer J. G. Ahle and was made famous by J.S. Bach in his Cantata 60 (O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort). Bach’s setting was in turn quoted by Berg in his Violin Concerto. Indeed the first phrase of the tune sounds 20th century: four notes ascending by whole tones and thus outlining the tritone, the most unstable and ambiguous of intervals. The tritone plays an important part, both melodically and harmonically, in the development of the Fantasy which is in one movement but divided into five sections based on the five different phrases of the Chorale. The music tries to illuminate the words of the Chorale and the sections are as follows:
1. Es its genug
The solo violin states the opening theme, the organ coming in with supporting chords. Then the organ has the theme, and a dialogue between the two instruments ensues, growing louder and faster until the breaking point.
2. Herr, wenn es dir gefällt
The theme is passed back and forth through various rhythms until the violin gives a ‘pre-echo’ of the next theme and the music almost fades away until the organ starts -
3. So spanne mich doch aus
A toccata-like section with changing rhythms (mostly 6/8). This continues into the next chorale phrase as a compositional and emotional entity.
4. Ich fahre sicher hin mit Frieden
The organ has the first theme, in 4/4, while the violin continues for a while in 6/8. The violin then takes the theme in 4/4 and the organ goes off in triplets until another breaking point. There is a solo cadenza for organ (ending with the fifth phrase of the chorale) and then one for violin. The organ quietly comes in with J.S. Bach’s harmonisation for the words mein grosser Jammer bleibt darnieden. This is the psychological climax of the piece.
5. Es ist genug
Both the first and fifth chorale phrases (both are to the same words) are used to begin this short section, but the fifth phrase gradually becomes metamorphosed into the first. Growing ever softer, tone clusters rise in the organ as the violin quietly soars ever higher, bringing the work to a hushed and serene conclusion.
It is enough: Lord, if it thou dost please,
do thus unyoke me now. My Jesus comes:
so then good night, O World! I go toward
Heaven’s home; secure in peace I journey
thither; my great distress is left behind
me. It is enough, it is enough.
© Kenneth Leighton
The Chorale Es ist genug is by the 17th century composer J. G. Ahle and was made famous by J.S. Bach in his Cantata 60 (O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort). Bach’s setting was in turn quoted by Berg in his Violin Concerto. Indeed the first phrase of the tune sounds 20th century: four notes ascending by whole tones and thus outlining the tritone, the most unstable and ambiguous of intervals. The tritone plays an important part, both melodically and harmonically, in the development of the Fantasy which is in one movement but divided into five sections based on the five different phrases of the Chorale. The music tries to illuminate the words of the Chorale and the sections are as follows:
1. Es its genug
The solo violin states the opening theme, the organ coming in with supporting chords. Then the organ has the theme, and a dialogue between the two instruments ensues, growing louder and faster until the breaking point.
2. Herr, wenn es dir gefällt
The theme is passed back and forth through various rhythms until the violin gives a ‘pre-echo’ of the next theme and the music almost fades away until the organ starts -
3. So spanne mich doch aus
A toccata-like section with changing rhythms (mostly 6/8). This continues into the next chorale phrase as a compositional and emotional entity.
4. Ich fahre sicher hin mit Frieden
The organ has the first theme, in 4/4, while the violin continues for a while in 6/8. The violin then takes the theme in 4/4 and the organ goes off in triplets until another breaking point. There is a solo cadenza for organ (ending with the fifth phrase of the chorale) and then one for violin. The organ quietly comes in with J.S. Bach’s harmonisation for the words mein grosser Jammer bleibt darnieden. This is the psychological climax of the piece.
5. Es ist genug
Both the first and fifth chorale phrases (both are to the same words) are used to begin this short section, but the fifth phrase gradually becomes metamorphosed into the first. Growing ever softer, tone clusters rise in the organ as the violin quietly soars ever higher, bringing the work to a hushed and serene conclusion.
It is enough: Lord, if it thou dost please,
do thus unyoke me now. My Jesus comes:
so then good night, O World! I go toward
Heaven’s home; secure in peace I journey
thither; my great distress is left behind
me. It is enough, it is enough.
© Kenneth Leighton