One Equal Music – Carol Barnett

Composer: Carol Barnett

Text by: John Donne

Instrumentation: TTBB a cappella (divisi)

Duration: Approx. 5 minutes

Date Written:  2009

Composer’s note: In setting John Donne’s sermon text, I was intrigued by the concept of opposing ideas resolving to a higher level, a world beyond opposition. How might it be expressed in music, this no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no foes nor friends, but one equal communion; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity? And what might have been Donne’s state of mind as he delivered these words – perhaps a sort of spiritual exaltation? The music uses word painting to achieve a series of mounting climaxes depicting these heavenly attributes – light, music, communion, eternity – and finally, amen
– Carol Barnett

text

Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening, into the house and gate of heaven to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, bur one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no foes nor friends, but one equal communion; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity; in the habitation of thy glory and dominion, world without end. Amen.

Adapted from “A Sermon Preached at White-hall, February 29, 1627,” by John Donne, 1572-1631.