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Lux Aurumque

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Lux Aurumque
by Eric Whitacre
The composer conducting, in 2007
KeyC♯ minor
Genrechoral composition
TextTranslation of the poem "Light and Gold", by Edward Esch
LanguageLatin
Composed2000 (2000)
Scoring8-part mixed choir a cappella

Lux Aurumque ("Light and Gold", sometimes "Light of Gold") is a choral composition in one movement by Eric Whitacre. It is a Christmas piece based on a Latin poem of the same name, which translates as "Light, warm and heavy as pure gold, and the angels sing softly to the new born babe".[1] In 2000, Whitacre set a short Latin text for mixed choir a cappella. In 2005, he wrote an arrangement for wind ensemble. The choral version became known through Whitacre's project Virtual Choir in 2009. The piece is also available for men's choir. A performance takes about four minutes.

History

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The inspiration for the work was a short poem in English, "Light and Gold", which begins with the word "Light" and ends "angels sing softly to the new-born babe".[2] Charles Anthony Silvestri translated this text into Latin for Whitacre, and attempted to render "the original poem into Latin as singably and as sonically beautifully as I could".[3] The poem is attributed to Edward Esch, described by Whitacre as "a recluse, in the truest sense of the word … born sometime in the early '70s, but rarely making a public appearance".[4] Esch is also credited with the words of Whitacre's work Winter.[5] It has been suggested that Esch is a pseudonym of Eric Whitacre, whose son is named Esch Edward Whitacre.[6]

The piece was composed in 2000 on a commission from the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and dedicated to Jo-Michael Scheibe. It was published by Walton Music in 2001.[7] In 2005, Whitacre adapted it for wind band, a version first performed at the annual conference of the Texas Music Educators Association and dedicated to Gary Green.[8][dead link] He also arranged it for men's choir.[9]

The version for mixed choir is part of Whitacre's project Virtual Choir.[9] The video as a mix of individual recordings by 185 singers from 12 countries caused "a colossal on-line rush in interest" when it was uploaded in 2011.[10] It had been viewed on YouTube more than 6.7 million times as of December 2021.[11]

Music

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The work in 48 measures is written in C♯ minor and marked Adagio, Molto legato. It is set for SATB; all parts are divided in two for most of the time, a solo soprano is employed in measures 5 to 7, and the soprano is divided in three parts beginning in measure 34.

The composer writes in the printed score: "... if the tight harmonies are carefully tuned and balanced they will shimmer and glow". Differently from other works of the composer, the piece is suitable for church services, especially for Christmas.[3] Whitacre's music has been described as "softly spoken, deeply harmonic and tuneful, but making use of unusual rhythms and sound balancing to create highly textured music".[12]

Whitacre used the two initial chords of the conclusion of Passio by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt (Qui passus es) for the final word natum (new-born) and thus linking birth and death of Christ to reincarnation.

References

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  1. ^ Shrock, Dennis (2009-03-04). Choral Repertoire. Oxford University Press. p. 761. ISBN 9780199886876. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  2. ^ "Lux Aurumque". recmusic.org. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b Silvestri, Charles Anthony (2001). "Lux Aurumque". web.mac.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Whitacre: Cloudburst & other choral works". Hyperion. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Winter – Music Catalog". Eric Whitacre. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022. Edward Esch, b.1970
  6. ^ Swain, Phlip Allen (2016). In his own words: the choral music of Eric Whitacre from 1991-2004 (Doctoral Essay). University of Miami. p. 102. Archived from the original on 2023-07-11. the only conclusion this author can reach is that Edward Esch is the pen name for Eric Whitacre.
  7. ^ "Lux Aurumque" (PDF). Walton Music. 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Lux Aurumque" (PDF). bandamusicabelmonte.es. 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ a b "Choral Newsletter ~ Summer 2010 / The Choral Music of Eric Whitacre". spectrum-music.com. 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir performance of Lux Aurumque". ChesterNovello. 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Lux Aurumque". YouTube. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Album review: Eric Whitacre, Light & Gold". The Scotsman. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
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