The Transient Glory Publishing Series

The Young People's Chorus has a long history of commissioning exciting and challenging new works for young voices. More recently it has brought new works from major composers to a world-wide audience as part of its Transient Glory series. Through a series of concerts, symposiums and subsequent publishing, these pieces are paving the way for a new generation of young people to experience high-quality choral repertoire in rehearsals and concert halls.

Transient Glory Published Titles

Bright Sheng's
The Boatman's Song

Phil Galston

John Schaefer and
Bright Sheng

The panel of composers
discuss their music

Many of the works presented as part of the Transient Glory Series are available for purchase through major music publishers.

Boosey & Hawkes

Samuel Adler - "Songs of the Seasons"
Dominick Argento - "Orpheus"
David Del Tredici - "Alphabet", "Highlands, Farewell", "Sabbath's Child" and "The Little Land" from Four Heartfelt Anthems
Kevin James - "NYC Playground"
Jenny Johnson - "The Smiling Eyes"
Elena Katz-Chernin - "Un-Labelled"
Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum - "Two Songs From e.e. cummings"
Benjamin Lees - "The Nervous Family"
Tod Machover - "I Dreamt a Dream"
Steven Mackey - "The Attic Which is Desire"
Walter Thompson - "Colors"
Michael Torke - "Song of Ezekiel"
Jim Papoulis - "Panta Rhei"
Nils Vigeland - "Miracles"

Chester-Novello

Richard Rodney Bennett - "The Ballad of Sweet William"
Geoffrey Burgon - "Shirtless Stephen (and the Children's Crusade)"
Michael Nyman - "A Child's View of Colour"
John Tavener - "Glory to God for this Transient Life"
Judith Weir - "Little Tree"

G. Schirmer

Bright Sheng - "The Boatman's Song"

See a full list of works commissioned by the YPC.

Transient Glory's Song of Ezekiel awarded 2003 Best Octavo of the Year by the MPA (Music Publisher's Association)

From the composer's website (www.michaeltorke.com):

"The prophet Ezekiel lived in exile and was very concerned about the restoration of Israel. These verses I have chosen - about high trees and low trees - can serve as a political metaphor for the kings and leaders of the time, that through God, He will lift the 'lowly tree,' and make the 'withered tree bloom,' restoring Israel to its majesty, and bringing down her enemies.

But to me these verses are about human beings' expectations of the world. It is only through God that a branch planted will bear fruit, it is not through credit of our own. Therefore, God has the power to bring low the high and lift high the low. Consequently, this teaches us acceptance and an accompanying inner peace: it is not through our own will that we will bloom.

I think this idea has resonance with adolescence: this is a period of tremendous change, growth, awkwardness, and uncertainty. Social hierarchies and cliques threaten a teenager's confidence. A belief that it is within God's power to lift high the lowly and bring low the high is a way to restore in a young person a sense of autonomy, strength, and inner belief.

In addition, these verses are God speaking. Through the voices of young people, God's message becomes poignant, sincere, and expressive."

 

Download the Boosey & Hawkes Transient Glory Press Release