"It grips the listener throughout" La Colombe performs Requiem for Humanity by Helen Ostafew (1978*) and Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd (ca 1540-1623). La Colombe are a Dutch Chamber Choir led by conductor Iassen Raykov and accompanied on organ by Dennis Valkenduuk. They are an ambitious and accomplished ensemble, who regularly performs both in Holland and Germany. They have a broad, mostly classical repertoire and have recently premiered a number of choral works. Newspaper quote following German premiere: “Stylistically, the composition is extraordinarily diverse. On the one hand it exists within the tradition of the requiem settings, but it also uses the tonal spread and frictions of contemporary music, while remaining completely individual. Above all, however, it grips the listener throughout. The performance of the choir was exemplary. A lovely sound combined most happily with an intelligent interpretation of the text. Particularly notable were the sensitive renditions of the solo parts which were beautifully sung by members of the choir. The public showed their appreciation with a storm of applause and a standing ovation for Iassen Raykov, his choir, and not least the composer, Helen Ostafew, who was present. One can confidently place Helen Ostafew’s work alongside those of the popular contemporary English Choral works of John Tavener and John Rutter.” — Jörg Leune, Grafschafter Nachrichten November 17th, 2015 Requiem for Humanity: Helen Ostafew’s ‘Requiem for Humanity’ brings a message of hope and unity. With eleven movements, parts of the Latin mass are set alongside texts from Buddhism, Judaism, Daoism and Hinduism. It also incorporates poems from Auden and Yeats and quotes from inspirational leaders such as Gandhi. Stylistically it combines influences from classical, folk, world music as well as film music. It has been performed in Holland, Germany and England and was premiered in the Netherlands by La Colombe on 25th October 2014 to a standing ovation. Their CD presentation was on 7th November 2015 in the Oude Blasius Kerk, Delden, NL. The German premiere on 14th November 2015 was the day after the Isis attacks in Paris and was deeply moving with a minute of silence before the performance. The Purbeck Arts Choir did a very successful UK premiere on 1st April 2017 in St. Mary’s Church, Swanage. It was the first performance with string quintet and piano accompaniment in place of organ. The sheet music is available for SATB choir, soprano, alto and baritone soloists with either organ accompaniment or piano and strings. It is perfect for half a concert and suitable for both professional and amateur choirs. Helen Ostafew: Helen is a British composer, singer, conductor and accompanist living in Penarth, Wales. Alongside her Requiem for Humanity she has composed musicals for children and young adults as well as a series of Yeats songs for mezzo soprano. After graduating in classical singing from the University of Leeds, which included a year at Enschede Music Conservatory in the Netherlands, she went on to perform with numerous professional project choirs including the Chamber Choir of Europe, Consensus Vocalis and La Colombe. Whilst singing in Consensus Vocalis she performed Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Bach’s Mathew Passion at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Beethoven’s 9th at the Open Air Festival Aa in Munster, Germany. The Chamber Choir of Europe has given her the opportunity to sing with some fantastic musicians in locations across Germany and Italy. Iassen Raykov: Iassen is an inspirational conductor who leads a number of choirs in the Netherlands. Born in Bulgaria, he studied piano under Dimo Dimov at the Sofia Conservertoire. He later moved to the Netherlands and continued his piano study at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam with Gert Jan Vermeulen and Marcel Baudet. During this time he studied choral conducting under Jos Vermunt, Daniel Reuss, Hans van Hombergh and Jos van Veldhoven in Amderdam whilst developing his orchestral conducting with Kerry Woodward at Enschede Conservatoire. Dennis Valkenduuk: Dennis is an accomplished organist and composer. He recently had a successful premiere of his work Vijf Kleuren - bij 100 jaar De Stij at the Grote Kerk, Enschede. He studied organ at Enschede Conservatoire under Gijs van Schoonhoven, church music with Jeroen de Wit and choral conducting with Kees Stolwijk. Since 2014 he has been the organist and conductor at the Plechelmus basiliek in Oldenzaal. In addition, he is the accompanist for the Stadsjongenskoor Oldezaal, conductor of chamber choir Avoce (Winterswijk) and ladies project choir Vocamuze (Oost-Gelre). Requiem for Humanity - Lyrics 1. Requiem (Introit) & Kyrie: Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem. Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. A hymn becomes you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall a vow be repaid in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer; to you shall all flesh come. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Lord have mercy; Christ have mercy; Lord have mercy 2. Dies Irae Dies iræ! dies illa Solvet sæclum in favilla: Teste David cum Sibylla! Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando judex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus! Tuba, mirum spargens sonum Per sepulchra regionum, Coget omnes ante thronum. Mors stupebit, et natura, Cum resurgit creatura, judicanti responsura. Rex tremendæ majestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis. Confutatis maledictis, Flammus acribus addictis: Voca me benedictis. Lacrimosa dies illa, Qua resurget ex favilla Judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus. Day of wrath! O day of mourning! See fulfilled the prophets' warning, Heaven and earth in ashes burning! Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth, when from heaven the Judge descendeth, on whose sentence all dependeth. Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth; through earth's sepulchers it ringeth; all before the throne it bringeth. Death is struck, and nature quaking, all creation is awaking, to its Judge an answer making. King of Majesty tremendous, who dost free salvation send us, Fount of pity, then befriend us! While the wicked are confounded, doomed to flames of woe unbounded call me with thy saints surrounded. Ah! that day of tears and mourning! From the dust of earth returning man for judgment must prepare him; Spare, O God, in mercy spare him 3. Contemplation – text by The Buddah, Anguttara Nikaya: Short, alas, is the life of man, Limited and fleeting, full of pain and torment. One should wisely understand this, Do good deeds and lead a holy life, For no mortals ever escape death. Just as the dewdrop, at the point of the grass-blade At sunrise soon will vanish And does not remain for long: Just so is the dew drop-like life of men very short and fleeting. One should wisely understand this, Do good deeds and lead a holy life, For no mortal ever escapes death. Just as at the pouring down of a mighty rain, The bubbles on the water very soon vanish And do not remain for long: Just so is the bubble-like life of men very short and fleeting. One should wisely understand this, Do good deeds and lead a holy life, For no mortal ever escapes death. Just as the cattle for slaughter, Whatever is their footing, Stand on the brink of death, Just so is the life of men very short and fleeting. One should wisely understand this, Do good deeds and lead a holy life, For no mortal ever escapes death. Short, alas, is the life of man, Limited and fleeting, full of pain and torment. 4. Funeral Blues – Poem by W. H. Auden (copyright Curtis Brown Ltd.): Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. Silence the pianos and with muffled drum, Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead, Put crépe bows round the white necks of the public doves, Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves. He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song, I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong. The stars are not wanted now, put out every one; Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun; Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood. For nothing now can ever come to any good. 5. May God Remember - Jewish Memorial Service: May God remember the soul of our honoured father who is gone to his repose; For that, I do solemnly offer charity for his sake; In virtue of this, may his soul enjoy eternal life, with the souls of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Sarah, Rebecca, Rachael and Leah and the rest of the righteous men and women that are in Paradise; And let us say Amen. 6. Sanctus: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth! Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis! Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts! Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! 7. Everlasting Voices – Poem by Yeats: O sweet everlasting Voices, be still; Go to the guards of the heavenly fold And bid them wander obeying your will, Flame under flame, till Time be no more; Have you not heard that our hearts are old, That you call in birds, in wind on the hill, In shaken boughs, in tide on the shore? O sweet everlasting Voices, be still. 8. Faith – Based on quotes by Gandhi: You must not lose faith in humanity Humanity is an ocean. If a few drops from the ocean are dirty The ocean does not become dirty. In a gentle way you can shake the world. Where there is love there is life. Though we may know him by a thousand names, He is one and the same to us all. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Our life is a long and arduous quest, An arduous quest after truth. Live as if you were to die tomorrow, Learn as if you were to live forever. 9. Agnus Dei: Agnus Dei, qui tollis pecatta mundi dona eis requiem. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Grant them rest. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Grant them eternal rest. 10. Lux Aeterna: Lux aeterna luceat eis Domine cum sanctis tuis in aeternum: quia pius es. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis. Cum sanctis tuis in aeternum: quia pius es. Let everlasting light shine on them, O Lord with your saints for ever: for you art merciful. Eternal rest grant them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. With your saints for ever for Thou art merciful. 11. Death is not an End – Daoism, Zhuangzu, 24: Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity without a starting point. Existence without limitation is space. Continuity without a starting point is time. There is birth, there is death, There is issuing forth, there is entering in. Soprano: Isa Berix, Ilse van Griensven, Herma Holtriger, Liliane Norg, Marion Röber, Gerburg Willing Alto: Jeanet Bosch, Sabine Henkel, Moniek van Hout, Baukje Toren Tenor: Arjen van Gijssel, Egbert van Hattem, Hartmut Heckmann, Eduard Ponten, Henk Stoeten Bass: Servaas Bank , Ivo Boytchev, Gerrit Jan Hamerslag, Peter Laport CD cover art work – John Abell Recorded by Jean de Vugt at Oude Blasiuskerk, Delden, NL.