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Prelude for Peace You can see a performance of this piece on U-tube
Prelude for Peace is a beautiful ensemble for 8 instruments and vocals in 3 parts. It can also be played entirely on harps. It is a great piece to play at your harp circle. It is not a difficult. There is a full conductors score as well as each individual part. The vocals do not need to be included in the piece. It can be done all instrumentally. Here are the words to the vocal part: Alleluia, Allelu, Sing a song from me to you, Alleluia, Allelu, May peace flow from me to you, Alleluia, Allelu,
A gift of love from me to you, The book is $20. Below is an excerpt from the conductors score which is 11 pages long (starting on page 4 of the book). The book also includes each part separately so they can be distributed to each individual.
At the Big Sky Folk Harp festival this year (2009) about 12 of us under the conductorship of Laura Zaerr rehearsed this piece one time and performed it at the Saturday night Ceili. It was a lot of fun and proved to be a very doable and beautiful piece for a group to pull off! "I spoke with the music director at the church where I direct the handbell choir, and your piece is scheduled for Thanksgiving Sunday as the combined prelude/introit. We will be assembling the full compliment of instruments minus the cello part which will be played on electric bass and doubled by the bells. I can't wait to start working on this! I've also convinced the music director to program your beautiful creation for the ecumenical Epiphany concert next January. I wish you much success with this beautiful creation!!" Thom Dutton An update from Thom (Dec 2009): "The music [at the Wellfleet Congregational Church (in Massachusetts)] went over so amazingly well. On person told me that he usually sits through the prelude with his mind racing, but not today. With all the musicians and the beauty of the music, he was totally focused for the first time. Now it's on to the Epiphany concert with the same instrumentalists and a 50 voice choir." The ensemble looked at and played your Prelude for Peace.
They were very enthusiastic. One of our members has a daughter with
Down Syndrome and for years has limitedly played the harp. She can
count simple rhythms. Mom had bought her a set of bells like those
used in classrooms. It isn't the best of tone - but she went home to
practice and by Monday her mother tells me she has the bell part down
pat. We'll be working on it some more at practice this Friday. I'll
keep you posted on our progress. Thanks to you and to Anna for the lovely "Prelude for Peace." It was performed at 2nd Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa, this past Sunday (November 15, 2009). There was a wonderful hush over the congregation, and many grateful comments were received after worship. We performed it with choir, two violins, viola, clarinet, cello, handbells & triangle. Kris DeWild, Director of Music & Amateur Harpist All I can say is, "Wow!" We played through Prelude for Peace
today and the first words I heard were, "Exquisite!" Then "beautiful" and
then "wonderful" and the praises kept coming. Because of
the simplicity we were able to feel the peace that our music was providing.
Extraordinary! One of the husband's showed up at the end and he had
to sit and listen and he agreed. Thank you for giving us peace. Beautiful piece Sharon! I like how well the calm setting prepares
the congregation for worship. This seems like a piece that any size
of music ministry could prepare in a short time. Well done!
Go back to the Books, or go to A Rose in Winter
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Thormahlen Harps
| 1876 SW Brooklane Corvallis, Oregon 97333 | (541) 753-4334 | harps@thorharp.com |