Composer’s Note
Calm the waves of this heart (for B-flat Soprano Saxophone and SATB Choir) was commissioned in 2017 to mark the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of Brisbane Chamber Choir.
The text for my setting, by the Danish philosopher, theologian and poet, Søren Kierkegaard, is a prayer beseeching the heavenly Father to “calm the waves of this heart” and provide reassurance that “the whole world may not be able to take away Thy peace”.
My setting of the prayer begins with a hushed atmosphere of choristers’ unvoiced exhalations. The “waves” and “tempests” of the heart, as portrayed by Kierkegaard, soon make their presence felt in the choral writing, with high and low chords used to create an undulating music. Throughout the work, the soprano saxophone rides restlessly along the top of the choristers’ waves, charting a course of virtuosity and lyricism.
Grateful acknowledgement is made to The University of Chicago Press for granting me permission to set music to Søren Kierkegaard’s text. I also warmly thank Brisbane Chamber Choir, Diana Tolmie (saxophonist) and Graeme Morton AM (conductor) for presenting the world premiere performance. – M.O.
Some of the Known Performances
SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER, 2023 (3:00PM)
Performers: Brisbane Chamber Choir, conducted by Graeme Morton. Featuring Diana Tolmie (saxophone).
Venue: St John’s Anglican Cathedral, 373 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Program: Concert three – “Zephyr: Float upon the western wind with the Brisbane Chamber Choir, directed by Graeme Morton, as we present an array of pieces for wind and voice. This special concert includes a rare performance of Igor Stravinsky’s Mass for a Mixed Chorus and Double Wind Quintet, alongside works by Australian composers, Leek, Orlovich, Crossin, Ford and Morton.” (Source: Brisbane Chamber Choir)
Tickets: Trybooking
FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER 2023 8:00pm (ACDT)
Performers: Brisbane Chamber Choir, conducted by Graeme Morton, with Sarah Byron (saxophonist).
Venue: Adelaide Chamber Choir Festival, Christ Church, North Adelaide, South Australia.
Program: This second concert of the Adelaide Chamber Choir Festival features Brisbane Chamber Choir, Polyphonic Voices (Melbourne) and Adelaide Chamber Singers. The program ranges from core Renaissance choral works to contemporary pieces.
SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER, 2023
Performers: Brisbane Chamber Choir, conducted by Graeme Morton. Featuring Diana Tolmie (saxophone).
Venue: St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER, 2023 (1PM)
Performers: Brisbane Chamber Choir, conducted by Graeme Morton. Featuring Diana Tolmie (saxophone).
Venue: Nickson Room, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Program: “Tides of Ocean”: The Brisbane Chamber Choir will perform a concert that celebrates the choral sounds of some of our leading contemporary voices in a program that focusses on the ocean and the stars. It includes works by Eriks Ešenvalds and Australians Stephen Leek, Matthew Orlovich, Andrew Schultz, and others.
SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER, 2021
Performers: Brisbane Chamber Choir, conducted by Graeme Morton AM, with guest soloist Diana Tolmie (soprano sax).
Venue: St John’s Anglican Cathedral, 373 Ann Street, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia.
SUNDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2018 (3PM) ***WA PREMIERE***
Performers: Voyces, Inc. & soloist Bridget Cleary (soprano saxophone).
Program: Plus One (Choir + Instrument).
Venue: Christ Church Claremont, Cnr Queenslea Dr & Stirling Hwy, Claremont, WA 6010.
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com.au
SATURDAY 12 AUGUST, 2017 (7PM) ***WORLD PREMIERE***
Venue: St John’s Anglican Cathedral, 373 Ann Street, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia.
Performers: Brisbane Chamber Choir, conducted by Graeme Morton AM, with guest soloist Diana Tolmie (soprano saxophone).
Program: “Sax & Song: A degustation of choral music” – Bob Chilcott’s “A Little Jazz Mass” (featuring Michael Farther, Ron Williams & Steven Stiller), Kenneth Leighton’s “Missa Brevis”, Matthew Orlovich’s “Calm the waves of this heart”, and other sax & song surprises.
Score Sample
Availability
Score Details
TITLE:
Calm the waves of this heart (for Bb Soprano Saxophone & SATB Choir)
DATE OF COMPOSITION:
2017 (Revised 2022 & 2024)
COMMISSIONED BY:
Brisbane Chamber Choir, Queensland, Australia.
SCORED FOR:
Bb Soprano Saxophone & SATB Choir
TEXT BY:
Søren Kierkegaard
DURATION:
c. 8 minutes
WORLD PREMIERE:
Saturday 12 August, 2017 (7PM) – Brisbane Chamber Choir, directed by Graeme Morton AM, with international guest soloist Diana Tolmie (Soprano Saxophone) @ St John’s Anglican Cathedral, 373 Ann Street, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia.
PUBLISHER:
Matthew Orlovich
ISMN:
tbc
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