Parable: A Tale Of Abraham And Isaac
Judith Lang Zaimont
About this work:
Parable: A Tale of Abram and Isaac (1986)
Recorded on Naxos ( full accompaniment);
on Leonarda (organ accompaniment)
Text: Brome Mystery Play, Wilfred Owen
For soprano, tenor and baritone soli, chorus SSATTB, organ
(Also a version for strings and harpsichord)
Publisher: Hildegard Publishing Company
Commissioned by Florilegium Chamber Choir
First Performance: Merkin Hall, NYC, June 1986
Other Performances: International Jewish Music Conference; Society of Composers, International; Louisiana State University; Madison Festival Choir (WI)
"Judith Lang Zaimont's latest choral work is not only one of the finest works she has written, but it is also one of the strongest choral works I've heard for some time. It has all the elements one could wish for -- profound text, exciting and also beautiful music, and virtuoso instrumental and vocal writing that heightens the inherent drama wonderfully. A great work!"
-- Gregg Smith, Conductor, Gregg Smith Singers
"A powerful meditation on the cycles of human destruction that yet raises the hope that the cycles may someday be suspended."
-- Fanfare
"Zaimont's 'Parable' told the story of Abraham and Isaac with a steamrolling rush of emotion. Miss Zaimont uses anything handy to propel the action -- dramatic unisons, sound effects, rushing scale passages and, at the end, a spoken kaddish to mourn Isaac's death. One admired the unflagging energy in her music."
-- The New York Times
"Zaimont has fashioned a powerfully theatrical work, heard here in the version for voices and organ. Solo voices are combined with the ensemble in varying textures, evoking vivid images which complement the strongly emotional story."
-- The NATS Journal
"The work is full of text-painting and expressiveness, and the performance is exciting and dramatic."
-- Women of Note Quarterly
Version: chorus, 3 soli and organ ( or with string quintet and hpschd)
Year composed: 1986
Duration: 00:16:23
Ensemble type: Chorus, with or without Solo Voices:Chorus with Keyboard
Instrumentation: 2 Soprano,1 Soprano soloist(s), 2 Alto, 2 Tenor,1 Tenor soloist(s), ,1 Baritone soloist(s), 2 Bass