Artistic Di=ector
"Psalms, Psalms, Psalms" "Psalms, Psalms, Psalms" > The Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken for mixed chorus, violin, clarinet, cello and piano

The Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken for mixed chorus, violin, clarinet, cello and piano

The Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken is a commissioned work from the Korean Philadelphia Presbyterian Church (KPPC) in Toronto for the 30th anniversary concert of the KPPC in 2011. The original work was composed for vocal quartet, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano.

To celebrate this special moment, two famous composers` works were quoted in the piece: the second movement of Joseph Haydn`s string quartet Op. 76/3 `Emperor` and the beginning organ passage of Flor Peeters` choral piece, Op. 40b `Jubilate Deo Omnis Terra` (Sing to God with Gladness). Gideon Gee-Bum Kim was especially interested in composing the piece based on those works, since the Haydn`s master piece was adapted into the Hymnbook as the title of `Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken` (or `Church like the Zion City` in Korean), as well as a famous Belgian composer, Peeters` work, `Sing to God with Gladness` perfectly matches in this festive occasion.

Following is the English translation of the text based on Psalm 87:3 (Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.). This text was used in vocal part as well as some of instrumental part in the work.

Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken formed thee for his own abode;
on the Rock of Ages founded, what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded, thou may's smile at all thy foes.

See! the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint, when such a river ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace, which, like the Lord, the giver, never fails from age to age.

Savior, if of Zion`s city I thought grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in that name,
Fading is the worldlings pleasure, all his vaunted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure only Zion`s children know.

 

            

 
Gideon Gee-Bum Kim, managing/artistic directo
 
Copyright 2015 by Toronto Messiaen Ensemble