King David

the king David is a Oratorio composed by Arthur Honegger in 1921.

It was the subject of a ordering of the poet Rene Morax for the representation of its drama to the Théâtre of Jorat of Mézières in Suisse. On the recommendations of Ernest Ansermet and the advice of Igor Stravinski, it called upon the type-setter Suisse. This last completed a first version in April 1921 (in two months), for vocal soloists and small orchestral unit (six wood, four coppers, a Piano, two drinking cups, a gong, a Contrebasse (Violoncelle AD lib.), a harmonium and a tom-tom). This work, in front of its initial success, was given to Paris in a symphonic version. To mitigate the absence of actors, Honegger introduced one reciting, thus giving again life with the Oratorio. The musician took again this formula later a few years for Jeanne d' Arc with roughing-hew.

Work comprises twenty seven numbers and lasts a little more than one hour.

  • Introduction (reciting)

  • Canticle of the shepherd David (voice of child)
  • Psalm: rented either the Lord (mixed chorus)
  • Song of victory (mixed chorus)
  • Procession (reciting)
  • Psalm: do not fear anything (tenor solo)
  • Psaume: Ah! if I had wings of dove (Soprano)
  • Psaume: canticle of the Prophets (chorus of men)
  • Psalm: Pity of me, my God (Tenor)
  • the camp of Saül (reciting)
  • Psalm: the eternal is my infinite light (mixed chorus)
  • Incantation: Pythonisse (reciting)
  • Walk of the Philistines (reciting)
  • Lamentations of Guilboa (chorus of women)
  • Jerusalem, Jerusalem! (chorus of women)
  • dance in front of the arch (reciting, choruses)
  • Canticle: Of my heart a canticle (mixed chorus) spouts out
  • Chant of maidservant (Mezzo soprano)
  • Psaume of penitence (mixed chorus)
  • Psaume: I was designed in the sin (mixed chorus)
  • Psaume: I raise my glances towards the mountain (tenor)
  • the song of Ephraïm (soprano and chorus of women)
  • Marche of Hebrew (reciting)
  • Psaume: I will love you, Seigneur, of a tender love (mixed chorus)
  • Psaume: in this fear (mixed chorus)
  • Crowning of Solomon (reciting)
  • Died of David (soprano and mixed chorus)

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