Mourned from Afar is a work for brass band, soprano and baritone. It is intended as a requiem for the times we are living through in the pandemic that started in 2020. It is also a personal testament to the emotions and struggles that the composer himself has gone through during this time.
The text was written by Monique Bronkhorst and used in three languages in the work. At the moment there is only the Swiss version with solos in German, French and Italian and brass band accompaniment. This version premiered in September 2022 by the Swiss Army Brass Band conducted by Philipp Werlen.
The work consists of the following parts:
Prologue: an opening for brass band,
Healthcare Heroes: solo for soprano,
Transition 1: intermezzo for brass band,
Loneliness: solo for baritone,
Transition 2: intermezzo for brass band,
Earth: duet for soprano and baritone,
Transition 3: intermezzo for brass band,
Lament: solo for soprano,
Transition 4: intermezzo for brass band,
Solidarity: solo for baritone,
Transition 5: intermezzo for brass band,
What if: duet for soprano and baritone,
Epilogue: finale for brass band.
The transitions form the connecting element between the different sung parts.
The title refers to part of the text: “mourned from a distance, loved, missed” from the Lament.
Grade: 6 Duration: 38:00
This work is offered on a licensed basis, the first performance costs 250, additional performances cost 100, per performance.
Listen to Mourned from Afar
Demo Score
Text
Healthcare Heroes
For cool hands on feverish heads watchful eyes on monitors compassion wrapped in plastic give them a blissful break now
For those who fought bravely for our freedom Protected us from further suffering For those who fell in battle So that they may now lay down their weary heads
What if
What if pain had no beginning and no end, we have to miss fathers and mothers and brothers, only homeless people wander the streets And fear rules our daily lives
What if caregivers themselves need to be cared for, Social intercourse becomes a verb, The music in cafes remains silent Let us then encourage and comfort one another
Loneliness
For those in eternal retreat Fatally struck in their isolation Endless hours ahead mere fear as a gloomy housemate
Comfort provided by covered faces lovers shrunk to tablet form offers them the eternal embrace a loving rocking to infinity
Earth
Respite for the wounded earth She takes a deep breath and from her motherly strength new greenery rises among charred remains oxygen for our body and mind
Oh, let us see the light and repent when cars drive again, planes fly again life resumes its normal course then let us take care of this victim.
Lament
For those who drowned breathless Their flame extinguished too soon and forever Mourned, loved, missed from a distance Let us never forget them
For those who went down fighting Risked their lives for ours Reward their courage and bravery And grant them a place in paradise
Solidarity
Bound in strict isolation Suddenly we saw the other standing How much more bearable our distress became Now that we could alleviate other suffering
Applause sounds better than a single clap Stopping tears turns out to be a small thing Together we unleash unsuspected powers Let us cherish in our hearts an everlasting warmth.
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