from the odes of solomon - greg bartholome · from the odes of solomon was first performed in...

GREG BARTHOLOMEW

From the

Odes of Solomon

Three settings for unaccompanied mixed choir

BURKE & BAGLEY

Perusal Copy - Do Not Duplicate

From the

Odes of Solomon ______________

From Odes 1 & 3 of the Odes of Solomon Duration 5’ From Ode 14 of the Odes of Solomon Duration 5’ From Ode 17 of the Odes of Solomon Duration 5’ 30”

______________ From the Odes of Solomon was first performed in concert by the Ars Brunensis Chorus on June 2, 2002, at the Husov Sbor, Brno. Recorded on June 1, 2002, at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, Brno - Husovice, Czech Republic. Roman Valek conducted the Ars Brunensis Chorus, Dan Kalousek choirmaster, Frantisek Poul recording engineer, and Annegret Lange producer. Released on CD by Capstone Records. For information about the composer, visit: www.gregbartholomew.com.

BURKE & BAGLEY www.burkeandbagley.com

1824 North 53rd Street

Seattle, WA 98103-6116 Tel: 206.632.4487

Email: o f f i c e@bu rkeandbag ley . com

______________

From the

Odes of Solomon ______________

The Odes of Solomon are believed to have been written around the year 100 A.D., and include strong parallels to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Scholars have debated whether the Odes should be considered Jewish, Christian or Gnostic, and whether they were first written in Greek, Hebrew or Syriac. Early Christian writings refer to and quote from them. An old Syriac manuscript containing the text of most of the Odes was discovered in 1909 by the English scholar J. Rendel Harris, and other partial texts in various languages have also been found. There are 42 Odes. Some fragments are still missing from Odes I and III, and no part of Ode II has yet been found. I have selected text from four of the Odes of Solomon which I found particularly compelling. The anonymous translation I have used comes from The Gnostic Society Library.

Greg Bartholomew October 7, 2000 Seattle

From Ode I

The Lord is on my head like a crown And I shall not be without him.

From Ode III

I clothe his limbs, his own limbs, and hang from them. He loves me. How would I know how to love the Lord if he did not love me? And who can tell us about love? Only one who is loved. I love the beloved, and my soul loves him. I am where he reposes, and I will be no stranger to him, because he is not petty, my high merciful Lord. I have gone to join him for the lover has found his beloved.

From Ode XIV

As the eyes of a son to his father, so my eyes turn to you, O Lord, at all times, for with you are my consolation and joy. Do not turn your mercy from me, O Lord, nor your kindness, but stretch out your right hand, and be my guide to the end. Care for me, save me from evil, and let your gentleness and love be with me. Teach me to sing of truth, that I may engender fruit in you. Open the harp of your holy spirit so I may praise you, Lord, with all its notes. From your sea of mercy, help me, help me in my hour of need.

From Ode XVII

I was crowned by God, by a crown alive. And my Lord justified me. I was freed from myself and uncondemned. The chains fell from my wrists. The thought of truth drove me. I walked to it and did not wander off. He glorified me by kindness and lifted my thought to truth. I opened closed doors, shattered bars of iron. My own shackles melted. Nothing appeared closed because I was the door to everything. I freed slaves, left no man in bonds. I spread my knowledge and love, and sowed my fruits in hearts and transformed them. I blessed them. They lived. I gathered them and saved them. They became the limbs of my body and I was their head.

--anonymous translation excerpted from the Gnostic Society Library (www.webcom.com/~gnosis/library/odes.htm)

Perusal Copy

q = 96

q = 96

q = 96q = 96

© 2000, 2003

From Odes I & III of the Odes of SolomonDedicated to my first music teacher, Mary Christine Bartholomew

Greg Bartholomew

Descant

Soprano

Alto

Tenor

Bass

Pianofor rehearsal only

The

mpLord

is

on

my

head

like

a

crown.

The

mpLord

is

on

my

head

like

a

crown.

The

mp

Lord

is

on

my

head

like

a

crown.

The

mpLord

is

on

my

head

like

a

crown.

The

mpLord

is

on

my

head

like

a

crown.

8

D

S

A

T

B

Pno

And

I

shall

not

be

with

out

-

Him.

And

I

shall

not

be

with

out

-

Him.

And

I

shall

not

be

with

out

-

Him.

I

shall

not,

shall

not

be

with

out

-

Him.

And

I

shall

not

be

with

out

-

Him.

Perusal Copy

A

A

15

S

A

T

B

Pno

I,

p I

clothe

His

limbs,

I,

p I

clothe

His

limbs,

his

mp

own,

I,

p I

clothe

His

limbs,

His

mpown,

I,p

mp

I clothe

His limbs,

I

clothe

His

limbs,

His

mpown,

His

mp

22

S

A

T

B

Pno

His

mp

own

p limbs,

I

pclothe

His

His

mp

own

p

limbs,

mp I clothe

His limbs,I

p

clothe

His

His

mpown

p limbs,

I

pclothe

His

own,

His

mpown

limbs.

I

p

clothe

His

From Odes I & III of the Odes of Solomon2

Perusal Copy

30

S

A

T

B

Pno

limbs,

I

mphang

from

limbs,

and

mp

hang,

I

mp

hang

from

limbs,

and

mphang,

I

mphang

from

limbs,

and

mphang,

I

hang,

and

mphang

from

36

S

A

T

B

Pno

them.

He

mp

loves

me.

them.

He

mp

loves

me.

them.

He

mp

loves

me.

them.

He

mploves

me.

From Odes I & III of the Odes of Solomon 3

Perusal Copy

B

B

q = 120

q = 120

42

S

A

T

B

Pno

How

mpwould

I

know

how to love

the Lord

How

mp

would

I

know

how to love

the Lord

How

mf

would

I

know

howto love

the Lord

if

mf

How

mf

would

I

know?

49

S

A

T

B

Pno

if

mpHe

did

not

love

me?

if

mp

He

did

not

love

me?

And

mf

who?

He

did

not

love

me?

How

mpwould

I

know

how tolove

the Lord?

And

mf


Perusal Copy

56

S

A

T

B

Pno

How

mp

would

I

know

how to

And

mf

who

can

tell

us

a

bout

- love?

If

mf

How

mpwould

I

know

how to

who

can

tell

us

a

bout

- love?

If

mfHe

62 C

C

S

A

T

B

Pno

love

the Lord?

And

who

can

tell

us

a

mfbout

- love?

He

did

not

love

me?

And

who

can

tell

us

a

mfbout

- love?

love

the Lord?

And

who

can

tell

us

a

mfbout

- love?

did

not

love

me?

A

mfbout

- love?


Perusal Copy

q = 96

q = 96

q = 96

q = 96

68 D

D

q = 120

q = 120

S

A

T

B

Pno

On

mp

ly

- one

who

is

3

loved.

On

mp

ly

- one

who

is

3

loved.

I

mp

love

the

be

3

lov

- ed

- and

3

my

soul

loves

3

On

mp

ly

- one

who

is

3

loved.

On

mply

- one

who

is

3

loved.

33

3

3

3

3

74

S

A

T

B

Pno

I

p am

where

Him.

I

mpam

where

He

re

pos

- es.

-

I

plove

the

be

3

lov

- ed

- and

3

my

soul

loves

3

Him.

I

plove

the

be

3

lov

- ed

- and

3

my

soul

loves

3

Him.

3 3 3


Perusal Copy

79 E

E

S

A

T

B

Pno

he

mfre

pos

- es.

-

I

mfam

where

He

re

pos

- es.

-

And

mp

I

will

be

no

I

mfam

where

He

re

pos

- es.

-

And

mp

I

will

be

no

I

mfam

where

He

re

pos

- es.

-

And

mpI

85

S

A

T

B

Pno

And

mf

I

will

be

no

stran

ger

-

to

Him

strang

er

-

to

Him,

no

stran

ger

-

to

Him

strang

er

-

to

Him,

no

stran

ger

-

to

Him.

will

be

no

stran

ger

-

to

Him


Perusal Copy

F

F

91

S

A

T

B

Pno

be

mpcause

-

He

He

is

not

pet

ty,

-

my

high

mer

ci

- ful

3

- Lord.

be

mp

cause

- He

is

not

pet

ty,

-

my

high

mer

ci

- ful

3

- Lord.

be

mpcause

- He

is

not

pet

ty,

-

my

high

mer

ci

- ful

3

- Lord.

be

mp

cause

- He

is

not

pet

ty,

-

my

high

mer

ci

- ful

3

- Lord.

33

3

99 q = 96

q = 96

q = 96

q = 96

G

G

S

A

T

B

Pno

I

mfhave

gone.

I've

mp

3

found

p

Love

mp

has

3

found

p

For

mpthe

lov

er

- has

3

found

his be

-

p

I

mf

have

gone

to

join

Him,

for

the

lov

er

- has

3

found

his be

-

33

3


Perusal Copy

105

S

A

T

B

Pno

love.

I

mfhave

gone

to

join

Him,

my

high

mfmer

ci

- ful

3

- Lord.

f

love.

I

mp

have

gone

to

join

Him,

my

high

mf

mer

ci

- ful

3

- Lord.

f

lov

ed.

-

I

mphave

gone

to

join

Him,

my

high

mf

mer

ci

- ful

3

- Lord.

f

lov

ed.

-

mp

I

have

gone

to

join

Him,

my

mf

high

mer

ci

- ful

3

- Lord.

f

33

3

112 H

H

q = 96

q = 96

S

A

T

B

Pno

The

mpLord

is

on

my

head

like

a

crown.

The

mp

Lord

is

on

my

head

like

a

crown.

The

mpLord

is

on

my

head

like

a

crown.

The

mpLord

is

on

my

head

like

a

crown.


Perusal Copy

120

S

A

T

B

Pno

And

I

shall

not

be

with

out

-

And

I

shall

not

be

with

out

-

I

shall

not,

shall

not

be

with

out

-

And

I

shall

not

be,

I

shall

not

be

with

out

-

126

S

A

T

B

Pno

Him.

He

mf

loves

me.

f

Him.

He

mf

loves

me.

f

Him.

He

mf

loves

me.

f

Him.

He

mfloves

me.

f


Perusal Copy

q = 54 Gently

q = 54 Gently

Dedicated to my father, Fletcher Lavallee Bartholomew

From Ode XIV of the Odes of Solomon

Greg Bartholomew

Soprano

Alto

Tenor

Bass

Pianofor rehearsal only

mp

As the

3

eyes

of a

3

son

to his fa

ther,

-

so my

3

eyes

turn to

3

you,

O

mp

As the

3

eyes

of a

3

son

to his fa

ther,

-

so my

3

eyes

turn to

3

you,

O

3 3 3 3

4

Copyright 2000, 2003

A

A

S

A

T

B

Pno

Do

mp

not turn

Lord,

at all

times,

for with

3

you

are my

3

con

so- la

- tion

- and

joy.

Lord,

at all

times,

for with

3

you

are my

3

con

so- la

- tion

- and

joy.

3 3

Perusal Copy

7

S

A

T

B

Pno

Do

mp

not turn

your mer

cy

- from me,

O Lord,

mpDo not

3

turn

your mer

cy,-

mp

Do not

3

turn

your mer

cy

- from me,

O Lord,

O

mp

Lord,

O

Lord,

O

mp

Lord,

O

Lord,

O

3

3

11

S

A

T

B

Pno

nor

mp

your kind

ness

-

mp

Do not

3

turn

your mer

cy

- from

me,

mp

Do not

3

turn

your mer

cy

-

from

me,

O

Lord,

from

me,

O

3

3

From Ode XIV of the Odes of Solomon2

Perusal Copy

14 B

B

S

A

T

B

Pno

Do not

3

turn

your mer

cy

- from me,

mpBut stretch

out

your right

hand,

and

nor

mp

your3

kind

ness,

-

But

mp

stretch

out

your right

hand,

and

Lord,

Lord.

mpBut stretch

out

your right

hand

and

Lord,

Lord.

mpBut stretch

out

your right

hand

and

3 3

18

S

A

T

B

Pno

be my guide

to the end.

Care

for

me.

Save me

from

e

vil.

-

Care

for

be my guide

to the end.

Care

for

me.

Save me

from

e

vil.

-

Care

for

be my guide

to the end.

Care

for

me.

Care

for

me.

Save

me

from e

vil.

-

be my guide

to the end.

Care

for

me.

Care

for

me.

Save

me

from e

vil.

-

From Ode XIV of the Odes of Solomon 3

Perusal Copy

24

S

A

T

B

Pno

me.

Save me

Save me

from e

vil,-

and let

your gen

tle- ness

-

and

love

be

me.

Save me

Save me

from e

vil,-

and let

your gen

tle- ness

-

and

love

be

Care

for

me.

Care

for

me.

Care

for

me.

Care

for

me.

29

S

A

T

B

Pno

with

me.

with

me.

And let

your gen

tle- ness

-

and

love

be with

me.

And let

your gen

tle- ness

-

and

love

be

with

me.


Perusal Copy

C

C

Più allegro ( q = 72 )

Più allegro ( q = 72 )

33

S

A

T

B

Pno

Teach me

to sing.

Teach me,

Teach me

to sing.

Teach me

Teach me

to sing.

Teach me

Teach me

to sing.

Con moto ( h. = 54 )

Con moto ( h. = 54 )

37

S

A

T

B

Pno

Teach

me

to

sing

of

truth,

Teach

me

to

sing

of

truth,

Teach

me

to

sing

of

truth

that

I

Teach

me

to

sing

of

truth.

Teach

me

to

sing

of

truth

that

I


Perusal Copy

47

S

A

T

B

Pno

Teach me

to sing

Teach me,

to

sing.

may

en

gen

- der

- fruit

in

you.

Teach me

to sing

may

en

gen

- der

- fruit

in

you.

Teach

me

to

sing

rit.

rit.

55

D

D

Tempo I ( q = 54 )

Tempo I ( q = 54 )

S

A

T

B

Pno

of

truth.

O

mf pen,

o

pen,

Teach

me

to

sing

of

truth.

O

mf

pen,

- o

pen,

of

truth.

O

mfpen,

- o

pen,

-

of

truth.

O

mf

pen,

- o

pen,

-


Perusal Copy

61 h. = 54

h. = 54

S

A

T

B

Pno

o pen- the

3

harp

of your

3

ho

ly

- spi

rit.

-

o

pen,

- - -

so

mp

I

may

praise

o

pen.

- - -

so

mp

I

may

o

pen,

- - - so

mpI

may

praise

you,

3 3

67

S

A

T

B

Pno

so

mp

I

may

praise

you,

praise

mpyou,

Lord

you,

so

mp

I

may

praise

you,

praise

mpyou,

Lord,

praise

you,

mp

so

I

may

praise,

praise

mp you,

Lord,

so

mpI

may

praise,

so

mpI

may

praise

you,

Lord,


Perusal Copy

E

E

q = 54

q = 54

76

S

A

T

B

Pno

O

mfpen,

o

pen,

o pen- the

3

harp

of your

3

ho

ly

- spi

rit

-

O

mfpen,

- o

pen,

o

pen,

- - o

pen

-

so

mf

I may

3

praise

you,

O

mfpen,

- o

pen,

- o

pen,

- - o

pen

-

so

mf

I may

3

praise

you,

O

mf

pen,

- o

pen,

- o

pen,

- - o

pen

-

3 3 3

3

80

S

A

T

B

Pno

so

mf

I may

3

praise

you,

3

Lord,

so I may

3

praise

you,Lord,

with

3

all

its notes.

so I may

3

praise

you,

3

Lord,

So I may

3

praise

you,

3

so I may

3

praise

you,

3

Lord

So I may

3

praise

you, Lord,

with

3

all

its

so

mf

I may

3

praise

you,

3

Lord

So I may

3

praise

you,

3

3

3 3

3 3

3

3 3 3

33

3


Perusal Copy

83 F

F

S

A

T

B

Pno

So I may

3

praise

you, Lord,

with all

its

notes.

3

From

your

sea

of

Lord.

O pen- the

3

harp

of your

3

ho

ly- spi

rit.-

From

your

sea

of

notes.

So I may

3

praise

you, Lord,

with all

its

notes.

3

From

your

sea

of

Lord.

O pen- the

3

harp

of your

3

ho

ly- spi

rit.-

From

your

sea

of

3

3

3

3

3 3

3 3

87

S

A

T

B

Pno

mer

cy,

- help

mp

me,

help

me

in

my

hour

ofneed.

Help

f me,

help

mf me,

mer

cy,

- help

mp

me.

help

me

in

my

hour

ofneed.

Help

f

me,

help

mf me.

mer

cy,

- help

mpme,

help

me

in

my

hour

ofneed.

Help

fme,

help

mfme.

mer

cy,

- help

mpme,

help

me

in

my

hour

ofneed.

Help

f

me,

mf

help

me.


Perusal Copy

93

S

A

T

B

Pno

Help

mp

me in

my hour

of

need.

Help

mf

me in

my hour

of

Help

mp

me.

Help

mf

me in

my hour

of

Help

mp

me in

my hour

of

need.

Help

mf

me in

my hour

of

Help

mp

me.

mfHelp me in

my hour

of

96

S

A

T

B

Pno

need.

ppp

need.

ppp

need.

ppp

As

pRelaxed, as a memory

the

3

eyes

of a

3

son

to his fa

ther.

-

need.

ppp p

3

3

3 3


Perusal Copy

q = 60

q = 60

From Ode XVII of the Odes of SolomonGreg Bartholomew

Dedicated to my sister, Annie Bartholomew

Soprano

Alto

Tenor

Bass

Piano

mp

I

was crowned

by God,

I

was crowned

by God,

I

mpwas crowned

by God,

© 2000, 2003, 2006

4

S

A

T

B

Pno

I

mpwas crowned

by God.

by

a crown

a live.

-

I

mp

was crowned

by God,

by

a crown

a live.

-

I

was crowned

by God,

by

a

crown a live.

-

I

was crowned

by God.

by

a

crown a live.

-

Perusal Copy

7

S

A

T

B

Pno

and

my

Lord

just

i- fied

- me.

and

my

Lord

just

i- fied

- me.

and

my

Lord

just

i- fied

- me.

mf

and

my

Lord

just

i- fied

- me.

A

A

q = 72

q = 72

12

S

A

T

B

Pno

lI

mfwas freed

from my

self,

-

and

mf

un

con- demned.

-

I

mfwas freed

from my

self,

-

and un

con- demned.

-

I

was

freed.

From Ode XVII of the Odes of Solomon2

Perusal Copy

16

S

A

T

B

Pno

I

was freed

from my

self,

-

The

chains

fell from

my

and un

con- demned.

-

I

was freed

from my

self.

The

chains

fell from

my

and un

con- demned.

-

19 B

B

S

A

T

B

Pno

wrists.

The

chains

fell from

my wrists.

The

mp

thought of truth

drove

me.

The

wrists.

The

chains

fell from

my wrists.

The

mp

thought

of truth

drove

me.

From Ode XVII of the Odes of Solomon 3

Perusal Copy

23

S

A

T

B

Pno

poco accel.

rallentando The

mf

thought

of truth

poco accel.

thoughtof truth

drove

me.

The

mf

thoughtof truth

The

mf

thought

of truth

drove

me.

The

thought of truth.

The

The

mf

thought

of truth

drove

me.

The

poco accel. rallentando poco accel.

27 C

C

S

A

T

B

Pno

drove

poco rall.me.

a tempo

drove

me.

thought of truth.

thought of truth.

The

mfthought of truth

drove

me. I

a tempo


Perusal Copy

30

S

A

T

B

Pno

poco accel. mfI

poco rall.

walked

to it

and

a tempo

did

not

wan der- off.

I

mf

walked

to it.

and

did not

wan der- off.

I

mf

walked

to it.

And

did not

wan der- off.

walked to it,

and

did

not

wan der- off.

poco accel.

poco rall.

a tempo

34

D

D

S

A

T

B

Pno

I

walked

to

it

and

did

not

wan

der

- off.

He glo

ri- fied

3

- me

by kind

ness

- and

I

walked

to

it

and

did

not

wan

der

- off.

He glo

ri- fied

3

- me

by kind

ness,

- and

I

walked

to

it

and

did

not

wan

der

- off.

He glo

ri- fied

3

- me

by kind

ness,

- and

I

walked

to

it

and

did

not

wan

der

- off.

He glo

ri- fied

3

- me

by kind

ness,

- and

3

3


Perusal Copy

39

S

A

T

B

Pno

lift ed- my

3

thoughts

to

truth.

I

o pened- closed

3

doors,

shat

f

terred- bars

of

lift ed- my

3

thoughts

to

truth.

I

o pened- closed

3

doors,

shat

f

terred- bars

of

lift ed- my

3

thoughts

to

truth.

I

o pened- closed

3

doors,

shat

f

terred- bars

of

lift ed- my

3

thoughts

to

truth.

I

o pened- closed

3

doors,

shat

f

terred- bars

of

3

3

3

3

43

S

A

T

B

Pno

i

ron.

mp

-

Myl

mf

own

shack

les

- melt

ed.

-

i

ron.

mp

-

lMy

mf

own

shack

les

- melt

ed.

-

i

ron.

mp-

My

mf

own

shack les- melt

ed.-

i

ron.mp

-

Themf

thought

of truth.

My

mf

own

shack les- melt

ed.-


Perusal Copy

E

E

48

S

A

T

B

Pno

No thing- ap

3

peared

- closed

be cause-

No thing- ap

3

peared

- closed

be cause- I

was the

3

door

to

3

ev

'ry- thing.-

3

3 3 3

51

F

F

S

A

T

B

Pno

I

freed

Iwasthe

3

door

to

ev 'ry- thing.

3

-

No thing- ap

3

peared

- closed

be cause- I

wasthe

3

door

to

ev 'ry- thing.

-

No thing- ap

3

peared

- closed

be cause- I

wasthe

3

door

to

ev 'ry- thing.

-

3

3

3 3


Perusal Copy

55

S

A

T

B

Pno

slaves,

left no man

in bonds.

I

freed

slaves,

left no man

in

58

S

A

T

B

Pno

My own

shack les- melt

ed.-

bonds.

My own

shack les- melt

ed.-

I

freed

slaves,

left no man

in bonds.

I

freed

slaves,

left no man

in bonds.

I


Perusal Copy

62 G

G

S

A

T

B

Pno

My own

shack les- melt

ed.-

My own

shack les- melt

ed.

I

spread

my

know ledge-

freed

slaves,

left noman

in bonds.

I

spread

my

know ledge-

67

S

A

T

B

Pno

I

spread

my

know ledge

and

love,

know ledge

and

love,

I

spread

my

know ledge

and

love,

know ledge

and

love,

andlove.

I

spread

my

know ledge

and

love,

andlove.

I

spread

my

know ledge

and

love,


Perusal Copy

72

S

A

T

B

Pno

and sowed

my fruit

in hearts

and

trans

formed

- them.

and

trans

formed

- them.

and sowed

my fruit

in hearts

and

trans

formed

- them.

I sowed

my fruit

in

hearts,

and

trans

formed

- them.

77

H

H

S

A

T

B

Pno

I

blessed

them.

They

lived.

I

mp

ga

thered- them

and saved

them.

I

blessed

them.

They

lived.

I

mp

ga

thered- them

and

I

blessed

them.

They

lived.

I

mp

ga

thered- them

and

I

blessed

them.

They

lived.


Perusal Copy

82

S

A

T

B

Pno

saved

them.

saved

them.

They

be came

- the

limbs

of my bo

dy-

They

mpbe came

- the

limbs

of my bo

dy-

87

S

A

T

B

Pno

They

mf

be

came

- the limbs

of

my

They

mp

be came

- the limbs

of

my

bo dy.

-

They

mf

be

came

- the limbs

of

my

They

mfbe

came

- limbs

of

my

They

mfbe

came

- limbs

of

my


Perusal Copy

91

S

A

T

B

Pno

bo

dy,

-

subito p

and

I

was

their

head.

cresc. I

was

their head.

f

bo

dy,

-

subito pand

I

was

their

head.

cresc. I

was

their

head.

f

bo

dy,

-

subito pand

I

was

their

cresc.

head.

I

was

their

head.

f

bo

dy,

-

subito pand

I

was

their

head.

cresc. I

was

their

head.

f

I

I

q = 60

q = 60

96 q = 48

q = 48

S

A

T

B

Pno

I

was crowned

by

God.

I

was crowned

by

God.

I

was crowned

by

God.

I

was crowned

by

God.

I

was crowned

by

God.

I

was crowned

by

God.


from the odes of solomon - greg bartholome · from the odes of solomon was first performed in...

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