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Minnesota Opera

Dominick Argento's Memorial: 'Evensong: Of Love and Angels'

Argento speaks with Fred Child
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1. Threnody -- orchestral prelude
Evensong: Of Love and Angels; Threnody – orchestral prelude
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2. Preces: Phos Hilaron -- solo treble (an Angel) chorus (The Afflicted) and orchestra
Evensong: Of Love and Angels; Preces: Phos Hilaron – solo treble (an Angel) chorus (The Afflicted) and orchestra
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3. Psalm 102 -- chorus a capella
Evensong: Of Love and Angels; Psalm 102 – chorus a capella
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5. Sermon -- solo soprano
Evensong: Of Love and Angels; Sermon – solo soprano
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6. Meditation -- orchestral intermezzo
Evensong: Of Love and Angels; Meditation – orchestral intermezzo
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7. Canticle: Nunc Dimitis -- chorus and orchestra
Evensong: Of Love and Angels; Canticle: Nunc Dimitis – chorus and orchestra
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8. Prayer/Lullaby -- solo treble
Evensong: Of Love and Angels; Prayer/Lullaby – solo treble
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Dominick Argento,
Dominick Argento, "Evensong: Of Love and Angels"
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4. The Lesson - reader
Evensong: Of Love and Angels; The Lesson - reader
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9. Anthem -- chorus and orchestra
Evensong: Of Love and Angels; Anthem – chorus and orchestra
Carolyn Bailey
Carolyn Bailey as Venus in John Blow's "Venus and Adonis." (1963)
Photo: The Minnesota Opera

Memorial Day has been celebrated in the United States since the Civil War to provide a public means of mourning those lost in battle.

This Memorial Day we're sharing a work written as a memorial for a civilian, a casualty of nothing spectacular except the end of her life.

Dominick Argento
Dominick Argento says "Evensong: Of Love and Angels" means more to him than anything else he's ever written.
Photo courtesy of VocalEssence

But with her passing and a means to express his grief musically, she inspired her husband composer to not collapse into despair, but to continue his life's work.

Dominick Argento considers "Evensong: Of Love and Angels" his best work. Most of the text is original, but includes words from the office of Evening Prayer, the service for the close of day.

Premiered in March of 2008 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Washington's National Cathedral, J. Reilley Lewis leads the Cathedral Choral Society Chorus and Orchestra; Elizabeth Futral, soprano; Nelson James LePard Reed, boy soprano and Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III, reader.

Elizabeth Futral, soprano

Nelson James LePard Reed, treble Cathderal Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III, reader

Cathedral Choral Society chorus and Orchestra

J. Reilly Lewis, Music Director

Recorded March 2, 2008, National Cathedral, Washington, DC

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