Set Me As A Seal
Michael Hopkins
About this work:
"Set Me As A Seal" is taken from the Old Testament, Song of Songs, Chapter 8, Verses 6 and 7. When asked by Social Band to write an a a capella piece for their group, I was interested in setting a biblical text. Initially, I was thinking about setting a Psalm text, but one day I found myself reading through the Song of Songs, and I found the words from Verse 6 and 7 in Chapter 8 very descriptive. I think it is a simple and beautiful love song, but at the same time, reminded me of the many complexities of the feelings associated with love. I wanted to try and capture this in music. The piece is in a moderately slow tempo, in 2. The piece begins simply, with all voices singing together. As the piece progresses the sections of the choir become more rhythmically independent. The piece contains a combination of simple and smooth voice leading with complex harmonies and modulations. To compliment the text, I was trying to musically create a sense of longing for resolution. Throughout the piece, the harmonies search for resulution, but never completely find it until the end. The piece is set in D major, but the first time the choir actually comes to resolution on a D major chord is in the final measure.
Song of Songs
Chapter 8
6
Set me as a seal on your heart,
as a seal on your arm;
For stern as death is love,
relentless as the nether world is devotion;
its flames are a blazing fire.
7
Deep waters cannot quench love,
nor floods sweep it away.
Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love,
he would be despised.
Year composed: 2004
Duration: 00:04:50
Ensemble type: Chorus, with or without Solo Voices:Chorus, Unaccompanied
Instrumentation: 1 S, 1 A, 1 T, 1 B