Hymns for Vivian

Description

Hymns for Vivian was commissioned by Amy Williams on the occasion of the third invitation for her orchestras to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic held annually in Chicago. It is dedicated to the memory of her mother, Ms. Vivian Daniel, and the work is written to reflect her love of hymns. It opens with “The Water is Wide” set in a gently flowing style in 5/4 time before giving way to the plaintive theme of “Shall We Gather at the River.” The aquatic nature of this pairing is no accident as Ms. Daniel and her family resided in Corpus Christi located on the Texas Gulf Coast. Being a native of “The Sparkling City by the Sea” myself, I fully understand the deeply imbedded connection people have with the Nueces River, the Bayfront, and the Gulf of Mexico. A canonic variant of “This Little Light of Mine” sets up a sunny, optimistic mood before the somber and poignant “It is Well With My Soul” takes over. The work concludes with an energetic flurry of snippets recalling the aforementioned melodies. I am honored to count Amy and her husband, Gene, whom I have known for over 30 years, as friends and colleagues!

Published by: RBC Publications