NAJI HAKIM
NAJI HAKIM

Our Lady's Minstrel for Clarinet (or violin) and Organ

Title, Duration, Place, Year, Publisher, Dedicated to, Premiere (performer(s), place, date)

OUR LADY'S MINSTREL, Prelude and Dance for clarinet (or violin) and organ (12') - Three Poems for soprano and organ (12'), 24', Chatou, 2013, Schott, to Regula Schneider, Regula Schneider, Soprano and Clarinet - Wolfgang Sieber, Organ, Hofkirche Luzern, 07.09.14 

 

I. Our Lady's Minstrel - Prelude and Dance for clarinet in Bb and organ

Our Lady's Minstrel is an ensemble of two works : Prelude and Dance for clarinet and organ, and Three Poems for soprano and organ, inspired by a tale of mediaeval France, Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame (Our Lady's Tumbler), after an idea of my daughter, Katia-Sofía Hakim. The works could be played either separately or in a same program in the following order : Prelude - Three Poems - Dance

The Prelude paraphrases the gregorian Salve Regina Our Lady's Minstrel - Three Poems for soprano and organ simplex) in a slow expressive waltz style. The Dance is a gipsy-like plurithematic sonata form with a serene waltz in the middle-section recalling the Prelude.

The Three Poems for soprano and organ use selected verses from the English translation of Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame, Our Lady's Tumbler [1898, Isabel Butler]. The music is through composed, following the structure of the text, in a syllabic style. The declamatory initial poem, Most Sweet Queen, is followed by the bouncing and joyful display of the central piece, Most Sweet Friend, before the venerating last verse, Holy Mary.

Texts of the Three Poems

Most sweet Queen, of your grace and your mercy despise not my service, for I serve you for your delight, you are the highest joy, whoever reckons all the world.

Most sweet Friend, right gladly I honor you with my heart and my body, my feet and my hands. I will tumble, leap and dance. I will skip and spring till I can do no more. Henceforth will I be your minstrel.

Holy Mary, most sweet Lady, noble and gentle, none so beautiful ever born, into your care I commit me, to you, I commend me, body and soul.

II. Our Lady's Minstrel - Three Poems for soprano and organ.

Our Lady's Minstrel is an ensemble of two works : Prelude and Dance for clarinet and organ, and Three Poems for soprano and organ, inspired by a tale of mediaeval France, Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame (Our Lady's Tumbler), after an idea of my daughter, Katia-Sofía Hakim. The works could be played either separately or in a same program in the following order : Prelude - Three Poems - Dance

The Prelude paraphrases the gregorian Salve Regina (tonus simplex) in a slow expressive waltz style. The Dance is a gipsy-like plurithematic sonata form with a serene waltz in the middle-section recalling the Prelude.

The Three Poems for soprano and organ use selected verses from the English translation of Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame, Our Lady's Tumbler [1898, Isabel Butler]. The music is through composed, following the structure of the text, in a syllabic style. The declamatory initial poem, Most Sweet Queen, is followed by the bouncing and joyful display of the central piece, Most Sweet Friend, before the venerating last verse, Holy Mary.

Texts of the Three Poems

Most sweet Queen, of your grace and your mercy despise not my service, for I serve you for your delight, you are the highest joy, whoever reckons all the world.

Most sweet Friend, right gladly I honor you with my heart and my body, my feet and my hands. I will tumble, leap and dance. I will skip and spring till I can do no more. Henceforth will I be your minstrel.

Holy Mary, most sweet Lady, noble and gentle, none so beautiful ever born, into your care I commit me, to you, I commend me, body and soul.

III. Preface for the performance of the two works in a same programme :

Our Lady's Minstrel Preludefor clarinet and organ - Three Poems for soprano and organ - Dance for clarinet and organ

Our Lady's Minstrel is an ensemble of two works : Prelude and Dance for clarinet and organ, and Three Poems for soprano and organ, inspired by a tale of mediaeval France, Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame (Our Lady's Tumbler), after an idea of my daughter, Katia-Sofía Hakim. The works could be played either separately or in a same program in the following order : Prelude - Three Poems - Dance

The Prelude for clarinet and organ paraphrases the gregorian Salve Regina (tonus simplex) in a slow expressive waltz style.

The Three Poems for soprano and organ use selected verses from the English translation of Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame, Our Lady's Tumbler [1898, Isabel Butler]. The music is through composed, following the structure of the text, in a syllabic style. As in the clarinet pieces, the colourful harmonies and rhythms are influenced by jazz. The declamatory initial poem, Most Sweet Queen, is followed by the bouncing and joyful display of the central piece, Most Sweet Friend, before the venerating last verse, Holy Mary.

The Dance for clarinet and organ is a gipsy-like plurithematic sonata form with a serene waltz in the middle-section recalling the opening Prelude.

Texts of the Three Poems

Most sweet Queen, of your grace and your mercy despise not my service, for I serve you for your delight, you are the highest joy, whoever reckons all the world.

Most sweet Friend, right gladly I honor you with my heart and my body, my feet and my hands. I will tumble, leap and dance. I will skip and spring till I can do no more. Henceforth will I be your minstrel.

Holy Mary, most sweet Lady, noble and gentle, none so beautiful ever born, into your care I commit me, to you, I commend me, body and soul.

 

 

Naji Hakim : Our Lady's Minstrel for clarinet and organ, page 1, excerpt from the autograph manuscript

Naji Hakim : Our Lady's Minstrel for clarinet and organ, excerpt from the sketches