'Angel Whisper' is a setting of a poem by Jay Ramsay. Jay is a poet Rosemary Duxbury has regularly worked with having set several poems of his to music, including 'Canticle to the Sun' (a symphonic poem for orchestra and tenor voice); 'Songs of the Mysterious' (for soprano, flute, harp and gong); and 'Adam's Song' (voice & piano) used in a short film by Mark French. They have collaborated on concerts at various British venues including St.James, Picadilly, London and Leicester Cathedral.

The setting of 'Angel Whisper' is for unaccompanied choir (SSATB) with a solo soprano. The words are from an improvised poem, from which Rosemary has made 3 sections - a sort of musical triptych.

The work was written as a result of the Kingfisher Chorale and the Central Composers Alliance setting a commission for new choral works and was premiered at the University of Leicester's Fraser Noble Hall in October 2003, and has received several performances since. 'Angel Whisper' is dedicated to the Kingfisher Chorale and its conductor, David Fisher.

Jay says of writing this poem, “poems come from unexpected places ... we are surrounded by the invisible worlds all of the time, whether we know it or not. This poem is written from the point of view of angels.”

Rosemary interprets the poem by dividing it into 3 parts making what she calls a musical triptych. She says, “I consider the 1st part to be acknowledging the presence of guides and angels around, the middle part takes you to what I consider is the heart of the poem: the 'angel whisper' in which I feel the words speak  of communion with sound and light around us, and the final part is about remembering who we are as soul.”

She has woven the sound of “HU” (pronounced ‘hue’) into the middle part to further express the nature of the ‘Angel Whisper’. “HU” is an ancient name for God, known and sung by many cultures around the world, and is known for being a word that, when sung, can open one’s heart and bring a feeling of peace and harmony and deep understandings.

Rosemary Duxbury and conductor David Fisher at recent performance of “Angel Whisper”






Kingfisher Chorale at the Fraser Noble Hall, Leicester, perform “Angel Whisper”

(November 2009)







The Kingfisher Chorale (conductor David Fisher) performed 'Angel Whisper' at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Quorn, Leicestershire, England in June 2007.

 

REVIEWS:
Rosemary Duxbury’s lovely setting for the choir shone out….. (we) have premiered many new choral works but hardly one has had the impact on the choir or our audiences as ‘Angel Whisper’…
David Fisher, Choral Director, Kingfisher Chorale

Thank you again for the opportunity to sing your wonderful composition...which must be a firm favourite in our repertoire now. Choir member, Kingfisher Chorale

Your musical composition is so beautiful and unearthly. The Midlands choir lifted it to the heavens for us all. It was delightful to hear one of Jay's (Jay Ramsay) poems set to music and it's total transformation beyond spoken language. L.F., Gloucestershire

Award winning choir The Kingfisher Chorale celebrated the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, with an evening of beautiful chorale music. The concert to raise money for the charity was staged in Braunston church. We had two of the composers present and a very appreciative audience. It’s of particular note that Rosemary Duxbury when introducing her piece 'Angel Whisper' explained the poem that she had set to music and the introduction of the ancient international name for God " Hu" which is sung sonorously under the melody. She herself said she felt the piece was extremely apposite to be premiered in a concert devoted to finding Hope out of Darkness. She is a remarkable young composer and we were thrilled and honoured to be able to perform her piece at such an appropriate event. Concert organiser, Choral concert in aid of The Medical foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture. "Hope out of Darkness."

Rosemary Duxbury’s evocative, seamless Angel whisper, in which her original use of layered words and haunting, sustained harmonies made a serene but telling impression. 

Neil Crutchley, Leicester Mercury


The performance of Angel Whisper, the lyrics taken from an improvised poem by Jay Ramsay and set to music by Rosemary Duxbury was magical, the layering of the words and voices  gave me goose bumps and made the hair on the back of my neck tingle,  this lady has such talent as a composer. Sue Gould, Leicester

© www.rosemaryduxbury.com 2010

SCORE/FURTHER INFO

For further information on ‘Angel Whisper’ or other choral scores, or if you are a conductor or choir member and would like to see a copy of the score please email music@rosemaryduxbury.com


For information regarding the Kingfisher Chorale visit: www.kingfisherchorale.org

Their conductor, David Fisher, is also a composer, specialising in choral music. For more details visit www.composersalliance.com/david_fisher_1.html

The poem 'Angel Whisper' was first published in 'MEDITATIONS on the UNKNOWN GOD' by the University of Salzburg (ISBN 3-7052-0052-6). For more information email: jayramsay@o2.co.uk or visit www.jayramsay.co.uk

Read more about Rosemary’s collaboration with poet Jay Ramsay