Poulenc Gloria & Honegger King David

Thursday, January 25, 2018, 8:00PM
Church of the Ascension, 36 Fifth Avenue at Tenth Street, NYC 10011

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Honegger and Poulenc were members of the rebellious group of French composers known as “Les Six” who eagerly explored alternative, playful, rhythmic, genre-bending music. Voices of Ascension presented its first performance of Honegger’s King David and reprised an all-time favorite: the Poulenc Gloria. Since its premiere in 1961, Poulenc’s Gloria has been popular for its grand scope and intensely human focus. When playwright René Morax commissioned King David in 1921, the young Arthur Honegger composed feverishly to create this unique, dramatic work for chorus and soloists with wind and percussion orchestra. Oscar-winning actor, F. Murray Abraham performed alongside the chorus as the narrator.

Full-length

Poulenc’s Gloria

Honneger’s King David

Movements

HONNEGeR’S KING DAVID

First Part
The Song of David
The Shepherd
Psalm
Fanfare
Song of Victory
March
Entry of Goliath
Psalm
Psalm
Song of the Prophets
Psalm
Saul’s Camp
Psalm
Incantation of the Witch of Endor
March of the Philistines
Lament of Gilboa

Second Part
Song of the Daughters of Israel
The Dance Before the Ark
Priests (before the Ark)
Soldiers
Maidens
Chorus
Soprano Solo
Chorus of Angels

Third Part
Chorus
Song of the Handmaid
The Psalm of Penitence
March of the Hebrews
Psalm
Psalm
Song of Ephraim
Psalm
Psalm
The Crowning of Solomon
The Death of David
The Angel
Choir of Angels