Wheel of the Year (Leanne Daharja Veitch)

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CPDL #14953: 

Editor: Leanne Daharja Veitch (submitted 2007-09-11).   Score information: A4, 43 pages, 1.72 MB   Copyright: Other

Edition Notes:

General Information

Title: Wheel of the Year
Composer: Leanne Daharja Veitch

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Sacred, Pagan

Language: English

Instruments: for Choir, Soloists, Two Flutes, ‘Cello, Piano, Hand Drum, and Singing Bowl in C.
Published: 2004

Description: Written in 2004, "The Wheel Of The Year: A Pagan Song Cycle", was Leanne's first composition. It was premiered by RMIT Occasional Choral Society in 2004. The "Wheel" has since been performed by nearly a dozen choirs and small ensembles around the world (in Germany, Canada, the USA, the UK and Australia), and has enjoyed far more success than she would have expected! It continues to be performed regularly, especially within the worldwide Pagan community.

This piece celebrates the eight sacred days of the Pagan community, which are collectively known as the Wheel of the Year. All of the text and music is original and copyright to the composer, except where indicated.

1. Casting the Circle: 2 flutes, singing bowl in C

2. Samhain: SATB, cello, piano

3. Yule: S solo, SAB

4. Imbolc: S solo, SATTBB, cello

5. Ostara: S solo, SAAATBB, hand drum, cello

6. Beltane: SSA soli, SSAB, 2 flutes

7. Midsummer: S solo, SATB

8. Lammas: SSAB soli, SAB, cello

9. Mabon: 2 female, 2 male soli, unison choir, flute, cello

10. Closing the Circle: SATB soli, SATB, singing bowl (in C or E flat)

External websites: http://www.winikoff.net/music/leanne

Original text and translations

English text

1. Casting the Circle

No Lyrics

 

2. Samhain

Eucalyptus, rosemary,

Burning brightly for remembrance:

Burning bright for purity

On this night when we remember...

 

Once again, Shadow's Eve.

Light the candle at the window.

Set a light to guide them home

Through the darkness of the night.

 

Contemplate our visions,

Dreaming of times long gone:

Dreaming of our loved ones

Who have passed across our lives...

 

Eucalyptus, rosemary,

Burning brightly for remembrance

Burning bright for purity

On this night when we recall.

 

3. Yule

Cold snow,

Icy the winds that blow

Cold, blow, in the dark of night.

 

Cold snow, icy the winds that blow

Cold, blow in the dark of night.

 

Icy cold wind blow, freezing winter snow

Yuletide is come!

Feel the icy breath, bitter cold of death

Yuletide is come!

 

Cold winter wind blowing icily.

Coldest, longest of nights.

Coldest, darkest of nights.

 

Drifting snowflakes on the air, blowing icily.

Twirling snowflakes on the air:

Wintertime at Yule.

 

4. Imbolc

No Lyrics

 

5. Ostara

Ostara (repeated)

 

All hail Ostara when all life is reborn

Honouring new life on Ostara morn

 

All hail Ostara as the sun rises in the morn

from the freezing biting cold of winter

all hail the day

all hail the light

 

Life rising

Life growing

Weaving life

 

Rising, lighting, growing, all hail the light

 

Ostara (repeated)

Ostara!

 

6. Beltane

Brightly the fires at Beltane burn

Rise, as the dusklight is fading

And we will dance, as we sing this song

Sing to the Lord and the Lady.

 

7. Midsummer

(Ding dong ding dong, midnight rising)

(Ding dong ding dong, chimes are striking)

Over hill, over dale, (Shadowy trees)

Thorough bush, thorough brier, (Whispering winds)

Over park, over pale, (Evening breeze)

Thorough flood, thorough fire, (Call Fairies in)

I do wander everywhere,

Swifter than the moon's sphere;

And I serve the fairy queen,

To dew her orbs upon the green:

The cow slips tall her pensioners be;

In their gold coats spots you see;

Those be rubies, fairy favours,

In those freckles live their savours:

I must go seek some dew drops here,

And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.

(We welcome summer in!)

 

The above lyrics are from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream Act II, Scene I, with the exception of bracketed text (original work).

 

8. Lammas

(Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,

All that dies will be reborn.

Corn and grain, corn and grain,

All that falls will rise again.)

 

Bring the crops in against the weather:

Wheat and barley and hops and hay.

Working, harvesting in together -

Celebrating Lammas today.

 

Night draws nearer, and wind blows colder:

Wheat and barley and hops and hay.

Gather in as the days grow shorter,

Celebrating Lammas today.

 

Cull the last of the Summer's bounty:

Wheat and barley and hops and hay.

Welcome in Autumn's golden beauty -

Celebrating Lammas today.

 

Bid farewell to the days of Summer:

Wheat and barley and hops and hay.

Calling in the cool rains of Winter,

Celebrating Lammas today.

 

(Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,

All that dies will be reborn.

Corn and grain, corn and grain,

All that falls will rise again)

 

All text and music original, apart from bracketed text and its associated chant (traditional).

 

9. Mabon

Wind, fire, sea, stone

Breath, flame, wave, bone

 

Long light has lingered here, Earth still is warm,

Deepening shadows lost by the dawn.

Long darkness rising here, though heat lingers on,

Twist of the Equinox - Mabon has come.

 

Dead leaves fall silently, drift on the air,

Trees standing, slumbering - dry, cracked and bare.

Time passes quietly, echoing past:

Earth calls the winter in. Mabon at last!

 

Shadows through the mist I see:

Time passing silently.

Starlight, as the Spiral bends.

Moonlight, as the daylight ends.

 

10. Closing

By the Earth, by all fleshly beings

By the Water, and all creatures that drink from her

By the Fire, and the shining spirits of the Bright Ones

By the Breath that gives all Life.

 

By Earth, by Water, by Fire and by Air

Bright Ones, depart in peace from this place.