The Trumpet Of Salvation
Joseph Bertolozzi
About this work:
This recording is from CLASSIC PRAISE (Prays! Music Publishing) featuring Michael Sust, bass-baritone, Troy Rowley, trumpet and Jo Deen Blaine Davis, organ. Available from msust@efree.org.
The Trumpet of Salvation was commissioned by The Rev. Fr. Paul Chovanec of Houston Texas and was premiered July 10th 1999 by Michael Sust, bass-baritone, Jo Deen Blaine Davis, organ and Troy Rowley, trumpet at St. Christopher’s Church, Houston.. It commemorates the annihilation of the town and residents of Lidice, Czechoslovakia during the Second World War. Fr. Paul’s idea was for a solo cantata with trumpet obbligato, using texts that literally spell out the role of the trumpet in the plan of Christ’s redemption. From his letter:
“There is a reference [in the Liturgies of the Roman Catholic Church] to sounding the trumpet on Ash Wednesday, and 40 days later at the Easter Vigil, and again 40 days later on Ascension Thursday. The melodies associated with these three texts could become the basis of a three-section work for three performers.”
The texts (below) come from the following sources:
I. The Ash Wednesday Old Testament Reading – Joel 2, 12-18, using the Tonus Prophetiae
II. The Easter Vigil Exultet
III. The Ascension Thursday Offertory Antiphon (now suppressed) drawn from Ps. 47. This text (but not the melody) currently appears as the refrain to the Responsorial Psalm for the Ascension Thursday Mass.
NOTE: The organ registration on this recording reflects the original disposition of the one manual & pedal Visser Rowland organ for which it was composed. The music score also outlines a more colorful registration for instruments with a larger stoplist to draw from.
TEXTS:
THE TRUMPET OF SALVATION
1. ASH WEDNESDAY
(from Joel 2, 12-18)
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Proclaim a fast, call an assembly.
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Gather the people, notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast;
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Let the bride and groom leave their chamber.
From the porch to the altar let the priests and ministers of the Lord weep,
Let them say: “Spare O Lord your people,
Make not your heritage a reproach with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God.’”
Blow the trumpet in Zion!
2. THE EASTER VIGIL
(from "The Exultet")
Rejoice heavenly powers!
Sing Choirs of Angels!
Exult all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ our King is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation.
Rejoice O earth in shining splendor,
Radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered!
Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes forever!
Rejoice O Mother Church!
Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shine upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
Echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!
3. ASCENSION
(from Psalm 47)
God ascends in jubilation.
God amid the blast,
The blast of the trumpet!
Rejoice heavenly powers!
Sing choirs of angels!
God ascends in the trumpet!
Blow the trumpet!
Blow the trumpet!
Blow the Trumpet of Salvation.
Year composed: 1999
Duration: 00:20:00
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Unknown
Instrumentation: 1 Trumpet, 1 Organ, 1 Bass-Baritone