Men & Angels (2014)
(for mixed choir SSATBB and optional violin)

Men and Angels – Composer’s note

Men and Angels is one of several works of mine based on words by the English poet George Herbert (1593–1633). The setting for unaccompanied choir of his poem “Antiphon II” was made for the George Herbert Festival held in Bemerton, Salisbury and Wilton in 2014, the first performance being given by The Farrant Singers, conducted by Andrew Mackay at Wilton House, 12 July 2014.

Herbert sets his verses out like a play script, with parts for “Chorus”, “Men” and “Angels”. This works well on the page, but is of no help when the text is sung, so I have entitled my version “Men and Angels” to give the listener a clue as to what is happening.

The lower voices (tenor, bass) sing the words of the Men (“Here below”), the upper voices (soprano, alto) sing the words of the Angels (“Here above”), and the two groups combine for the Chorus, who narrate Herbert’s imaginaꢂve dialogue as to which – men or angels – are better placed to sing the praises of the God of Love. 

Alec Roth

An optional solo violin part is available for Men and Angels. The violin plays a short (approx. 1 minute) unaccompanied prelude, and adds a descant between rehearsal letters B and C, and from letter D to the end. The optional violin part is on sale: EP72824A.

Men and Angels is recorded by Ex Cathedra, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore, on the CD ’A Time To Dance’ on the Hyperion label (CDA68144).