Tina Davidson's new album Hymn of the Universe explores musical connection with metaphysical and divine themes
Tina Davidson Announces Hymn of the Universe
with VocalEssence Singers and Conductor Philip Brunelle
“a mystical revelation, complex and compelling… seemingly propelled by the very energy of creation”
– Star Tribune
Release Date: December 1, 2023
Meyer Media LLC
www.tinadavidson.com | www.meyer-media.com
Composer Tina Davidson announces her newest album, Hymn of the Universe, set for worldwide release on December 1, 2023 on Meyer Media LLC. A highly regarded American composer, Davidson is lauded for her authentic musical voice with The New York Times praising her, “vivid ear for harmony and colors.” OperaNews called her works, “transfigured beauty,” and the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that she creates, “real music, with structure, mood, novelty and harmonic sophistication – with haunting melodies that grow out of complex, repetitive rhythms.”
Hymn of the Universe follows the publication earlier this year of Davidson’s memoir Let Your Heart Be Broken (Boyle & Dalton), which was praised in The Marginalian as “a consummate read in its entirety,” written with “uncommon sensitivity and poetic insight.” Let Your Heart Be Broken traces Davidson’s extraordinary life in equally lyrical language, juxtaposing memories, journal entries, notes on compositions in progress, and insights into the life of an artist – and a mother – at work. VAN Magazine calls the book, "an unequivocally poetic memoir on love, loss, and music." Review copies of the memoir are available upon request.
Davidson’s new album Hymn of the Universe includes three of her choral works – Antiphon for the Virgin, Hymn of the Universe, and Tu Autem, Domine – and features VocalEssence Singers conducted by Philip Brunelle in the first two works and the Society for Universal Sacred Music led by Roger Davidson in Tu Autem, Domine.
Drawing on sacred and spiritual texts, Hymn of the Universe explores a musical connection with larger metaphysical and divine themes. Tim Smith writes in The Baltimore Sun, “When it comes to beautifully crafted works that speak freshly through fundamentally familiar idioms, Tina Davidson is as persuasive as they come. The Hymn of the Universe is instantly appealing. Davidson subtly sets all the material to music that flows with a lyrical gracefulness. The choral writing is clean, clear and immediately communicative. In the closing passages, the choral writing reaches a radiant height so that the last sounds resonated in a suggestion of cosmic darkness.”
Davidson describes the impetus for this exploration in her composer’s notes:
“In the third decade of my composing life I began to turn towards a new sense of spirituality, a connectedness to something larger than myself. I grew up in a household with a strange combination of Episcopalian, fundamentalism and Unitarianism. It was endlessly interesting – high rules, high drama and fun Sunday school with snacks – but never personal. In my forties, however, I felt the pull to rename and reclaim whatever was out there; higher power, God, spirit, nature, or the energy of the cosmos.”
Antiphon for the Virgin was written in 1998 as part of a larger work, River of Love, River of Light, which comprises seven spiritual texts on the Virgin Mary. Antiphon for the Virgin draws on Hildegard of Bingen’s eponymous psalm, in which the Virgin Mary epitomizes the glory of women with the power to transform life and death in her womb.
Anchoring the album, Hymn of the Universe was commissioned in 2003 by VocalEssence Singers under the direction of Philip Brunelle. Written in four movements, the work is based on the writings of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit scientist and prolific religious writer. As both a paleontologist and an ardent Christian, Chardin is best known for his mystical evolutionary writings, in which he argued the material and spiritual worlds would develop into a final spiritual unity, a divine presence. Using texts from Chardin’s hymn-like prayer of The Mass of the World and Hymn to Matter, Tina Davidson’s Hymn of the Universe musically delves into the fiery energy of divine love and compassion at the center of Chardin’s texts. The work is capped by a final prayer, Mane Domine – “stay with us Lord” – one of Chardin’s most frequently used quotes from the Bible.
The Star Tribune reported of the piece, “The major work Hymn of the Universe … was both intellectually rigorous and deeply moving. The first movement seemed to vibrate like a mystical revelation, complex and compelling. By contrast, the second was a lullaby to the soul, utterly transparent in its simplicity. The third movement was an extroverted song of praise, seemingly propelled by the very energy of creation. The work concluded with an a cappella movement of quiet grace.”
Written in 2004 as a commission from the Society for Universal Sacred Music, Tu Autem, Domine draws on the Latin and English text from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. The text celebrates being one with God, culminating musically in a joyous and resounding “Lock me up, lock me up, Lord!”
More about Tina Davidson: Over her forty-five-year career, Tina Davidson has been commissioned by well-known ensembles such as National Symphony Orchestra, OperaDelaware, Roanoke Symphony, VocalEssence, Kronos Quartet, Cassatt Quartet, and public television (WHYY-TV). Her music has been widely performed by many orchestras and ensembles, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Relâche Ensemble, and Orchestra 2001.Davidson was commissioned by Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn as part of her 27 Encore project. The work, Blue Curve of the Earth, was released on Deutsche Grammophon in 2013, and again in 2018 on Hahn’s new album, Retrospective.
Long-term residencies play a major role in Ms Davidson’s career. As composer-in-residence with the Fleisher Art Memorial (1998-2001), she was commissioned to write for the Cassatt Quartet, Voces Novae et Antiquae, and members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She also created the city-wide Young Composers program to teach inner city children how to write music through instrument building, improvisation, and graphic notation. She was composer-in-residence as part of the innovative Meet The Composer “New Residencies” with OperaDelaware, the Newark Symphony and the YWCA in Delaware (1994-97). During this residency, she wrote the critically acclaimed full-length opera, Billy and Zelda, as well as created community partner programs for homeless women, and with students at a local elementary school.
The recipient of numerous prestigious grants and fellowships, Davidson was the first classical composer to receive a $50,000 Pew Fellowship. She has been awarded four Artist’s Fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, CAP grants from the American Music Center and numerous Meet the Composer grants. Her work, Transparent Victims, was selected by the American Public Radio as part of the International Rostrum of Composers, held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Tina Davidson grew up in Oneonta, NY and Pittsburgh, PA. She received her BA in piano and composition from Bennington College in 1976 where she studied with Henry Brant, Louis Calabro, Vivian Fine and Lionel Nowak. She currently lives in Lancaster PA. Learn more at www.tinadavidson.com.
About VocalEssence: VocalEssence, the choral organization Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently,” provides opportunities that draw upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the impact of choral music. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and through its performance series has debuted more than 300 commissions and world premieres. VocalEssence Learning & Engagement programs help people of all ages bridge, create, and learn across cultures by connecting them with renowned choral experts to provide exceptional role models, grow community self-esteem, self-expression, and engagement. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.
About Philip Brunelle: Philip Brunelle, artistic director and founder of VocalEssence, is an internationally renowned conductor, choral scholar and visionary. He has made his lifelong mission the promotion of the choral art in all its forms, especially rarely heard works of the past and outstanding new music. Under his leadership, VocalEssence has commissioned more than 300 works to date. Philip has conducted symphonies (New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, and Minnesota Orchestra among others) as well as choral festivals and operas on six continents. He is editor of two choral series for Boosey & Hawkes and chairman of the review committee for Walton Music. Philip is also Organist-Choirmaster at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. Learn more at www.philipbrunelle.org.
About Society for Universal Sacred Music: The Society for Universal Sacred Music was founded by composer and conductor Roger Davidson in 2000 for the purpose of developing a repertoire of music – primarily vocal – that expresses the unconditional and eternal love of God for us all, and our fundamental brotherhood and sisterhood as eternal children of God. Beyond interfaith work, this music is meant to build bridges throughout the world by singing of that which unites us the most: the Light within each of our souls, regardless of one’s circumstances in any given lifetime on Earth. For more information, visit www.universalsacredmusic.org.
Tina Davidson: Hymn of the Universe
Meyer Media LLC
Release Date: December 1, 2023
1. Antiphon for the Virgin [5:14]
Hymn of the Universe
2. I. The Offering [8:56]
3. II. Fold Your Wings, My Soul [7:49]
4. III. Hymn To Matter [10:22]
5. IV. Stay with Us, Lord [1:33]
6. Tu Autem, Domine [4:27]
Total Time: 38:21
Antiphon for the Virgin
In performance, Plymouth Congregational, Minneapolis, MN, December 3, 2000
VocalEssence Singers; Philip Brunell, conductor
Hymn of the Universe
In performance, St. Olaf Catholic Church, Minneapolis, MN, March 13, 2004
VocalEssence Singers
Philip Brunell, conductor
Tina James, English Horn; James Riccardo, violin; Mark Bjork, violin; Susan Janda, viola; Dale Newton, cello; David Hagedorn, marimba
Tu Autem, Domine
In performance, October 29, 2005, New York, NY
Society for Universal Sacred Music; Roger Davidson, conductor