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A Thousand Years
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| to catalogue | If you can't see the score below, download the free Scorch plug-in from Sibelius Software. |
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millennial anthem commissioned for James O'Donnell & the Choir of Westminster Cathedral; first performed at Westminster Cathedral on 17 & 21 December 2000, conducted by Martin Baker; duration: c.6' Like BCAD (written
the same year for the Swingle Singers), this motet is in two halves
separated by a pause, or possibly even by other music or events
in a service or recital. It takes as its starting-point the biblical
concept of God's relationship with time and eternity - "with
the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like
one day" - and incorporates a further patchwork of texts
that refer both to Christ's first coming as a babe in Bethlehem
two thousand years ago, and to His promised second coming at the
end of the age. The first half of the motet is slow, the second
a fast exploration of the same musical material. PART I
With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow keeping his promise, [as some suppose,] but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8,9) God is great beyond our knowledge; the number of his years is unsearchable. (Job 36:26) a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and lived among us. (John 1:1,14) a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. ...to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour... PART II ...and the day of vengeance of our God. (Isaiah 61:2) On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives. (Zechariah 14:4) a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. Methuselah lived nine hundred and sixty-nine years and then he died. (Genesis 5:27) they ate, drank and married up to the day Noah entered the ark; they knew nothing until the Flood came and swept them all away. (Matthew 24:37,38,39) ...like a thief in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:1,2) I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days... (Daniel 7:13) a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, [and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.] (Daniel 12:2,3) We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed... (1 Corinthians 15:51) Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us, but he will heal us, [he has wounded us, but he will bind our wounds;] after two days he will revive us, on the third day he will raise us up. (Hosea 6:1,2) Who has ever heard of such a thing?[...or seen such things?] Can a country be born in a day, a nation brought forth in a moment? (Isaiah 66:8) ...in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52) a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. God finished the work he had done, and on the seventh day he rested. (Genesis 2:2) ...in the last days scoffers will come, "Where is the promise of his coming?" (2 Peter 3:3,4,5,6) They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4) Whoever is thirsty let him come... (Revelation 22:17) Satisfy us at daybreak with your unfailing love that we may sing for joy. (Psalm 90:4,12,14) a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. No-one knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36) |
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