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Ein Licht - (2015)
Bertram Kottmann
for medium voice and piano harp
Hallelujah.
Wenn auch zu manchen Zeiten
der Horizont nicht gänzlich blaut -
man sollte weiterschreiten,
solange man ein Licht erschaut.Hallelujah.
Copyright © 2015 Bertram Kottmann Used with permission.
1 page, circa 1' 00"
Hallelujah.
There are such times as well we know
When dimmed seems the horizon's blue -
We press on through to the morrow
So long as life's Light leads us true.Hallelujah.
Rhymed paraphrase by the composer
Bertram Kottmann sent a holiday greeting in the form of the couplets, to which I added repetition of the traditional phrase in one word, "hallelu-yah." That phrase is a transliteration of the Hebrew הַלְּלוּיָהּ , made up of two words: הַלְּלוּ (the second-person plural imperative form of the Hebrew verb hallal) and יָהּ (the shortened name of God in Hebrew).
As Bertram's accompanying picture (shown in part above and picturing a vineyard path above his home) was described as a metaphor for our stations on life's pathway (Lebenswegstationen), it seemed apt to incorporate the hallelujah which figures so prominently in the many liturgies of the Judeo-Christian world into the text and setting it to song.
For other of Bertram Kottmann's texts which I have set to music, click here.
A setting for SATB was sketched first, and functions with or without the accompaniment above, as might be desired.
The scores are available as free PDF downloads, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano-vocal and choral scores.
