Dream Isaiah Saw
{{Short description|Contemporary classical choral Christmas song}}
{{Infobox musical composition
| name = The Dream Isaiah Saw
| type = American hymn
| image = Edward Hicks - Peaceable Kingdom.jpg
| alt = Peaceable Kingdom (Edward Hicks, circa 1834)
| caption = Peaceable Kingdom (Edward Hicks, circa 1834)
| translation =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| composer = Glenn L. Rudolph
| genre = Christmas song
| occasion = Sermons on peace and Advent
| text = by Thomas H. Troeger
| language = English
| written = 1994
| based_on = {{Bibleverse|Isaiah|11:6-9|KJV}}
| meter = 10-10-10-10-7-7-7-7
| melody =
| composed = {{End date|2001|09|30|df=y}}
| published = Oxford University Press, 2004
| misc = In memory of those who perished on September 11, 2001
}}
"The Dream Isaiah Saw" is a contemporary classical choral Christmas song, commissioned by the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh and composed in 2001 by Glenn L. Rudolph to the lyrics of Thomas H. Troeger's 1994 hymn "Lions and Oxen Will Feed in the Hay." It has become a holiday favorite.{{Cite news|url=https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2013/12/16/the-washington-chorus-a-candlelight-christmas-at-the-kennedy-center-by-jane-coyne/|title='The Washington Chorus: A Candlelight Christmas' at The Kennedy Center|last=Coyne|first=Jane|date=December 16, 2013|work=DC Metro Theater Arts|access-date=January 2, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://mcchorus.org/program_notes/heaven122008.pdf|title=Heaven on High|last=Moore|first=Michael|date=December 13, 2008|website=Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia|access-date=January 2, 2018}} The hymn has become a signature piece of The Washington Chorus and is performed annually at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performance Arts.{{Cite news|url=http://washingtonlife.com/2016/12/24/perfect-pitch-a-candlelight-christmas/|title=Perfect Pitch: A Candlelight Christmas|last=McCoy|first=Patrick|date=December 24, 2016|work=Washington Life Magazine|access-date=January 5, 2019}} The song has been independently released by many symphonic and college choirs. It is regularly performed by symphonic, college, church, and school choirs during Advent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+dream+isaiah+saw|title=The Dream Isaiah Saw|website=YouTube|access-date=January 6, 2019}}{{bsn|date=November 2021}}
History
In preparation for their 2001 Christmas concert In Dulci Jubilo, the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh (led by Brady R. Allred) commissioned five new holiday compositions. Glenn L. Rudolph, an active performer, conductor and composer in the Pittsburgh area since 1978, composed "The Dream Isaiah Saw."{{Cite news|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/ae/20011214bach1214fnp6.asp|title=Music Review: Bach Choir breaks the holiday mold|last=Druckenbrod|first=Andrew|date=December 15, 2001|work=Post-Gazette|access-date=December 9, 2018}} Rudolph was working on the piece when the attacks of September 11, 2001 took place. The Dream Isaiah Saw was finished nineteen days after 9/11 attacks and became a dedication to those who lost their lives in that tragedy. Rudolph said that the events of the 9/11 had an impact on the music he wrote for the hymn.{{Cite news|url=https://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/music/s_8158.html|title=New Bach Choir piece gets strength from Sept. 11 events|last=Karlovits|first=Bob|date=December 14, 2001|work=TribLive|access-date=January 5, 2019}}
The Bach Choir of Pittsburgh and The Pittsburgh Symphony Brass first performed the song at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St.Clair, Pennsylvania on Sunday, December 16, 2001.
Lyrics
The lyrics of a hymn Lions and Oxen Will Feed in the Hay first appeared in the book by Thomas H. Troeger Borrowed Light: Hymn Texts, Prayers, and Poems published by Oxford University Press in 1994.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Z0NAQAAMAAJ&q=thomas+troeger+lions+and+oxen|title=Borrowed Light: Hymn Texts, Prayers, and Poems|last=Troeger|first=Thomas|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1994|isbn=978-0193859425|location=Oxford, UK}} Thomas Troeger drew inspiration from the Book of Isaiah 11:6-9, an Old Testament book in the Bible by a Latter Prophet Isaiah.
Critical reception
"The Dream Isaiah Saw" has become a popular song in many choir performances at Christmas in the United States and Australia. Christopher Bell, the artistic director and conductor of the Washington Chorus, reported that the experience of Washington Chorus Candlelight Christmas "blew [him] away," mentioning "the candles, the procession, and 'The Dream Isaiah Saw.'"{{Cite news|url=https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2018/07/02/prepare-for-the-unexpected-an-interview-with-christopher-bell-artistic-director-and-conductor-of-the-washington-chorus/|title=Prepare for the Unexpected: An Interview with Christopher Bell, Artistic Director and Conductor of The Washington Chorus|date=July 2, 2018|work=DC Metro Theater Arts|access-date=January 8, 2018}} It is praised as a modern song that stacks up well against the classics.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/16/AR2007121601831.html?noredirect=on|title=Classical Music. Washington Chorus|last=Malone|first=Andrew|date=December 17, 2007|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=January 8, 2019}} Critics have described it as intense, gripping, thrilling, haunting,{{cn|date=November 2021}} cathartically climactic, packed with the biggest emotional punch, able to "bring audiences spontaneously to their feet,"{{cn|date=November 2021}} "bringing tears to the eyes."{{cn|date=November 2021}}{{Cite news|title=n.t.|last=Meyers|first=Steven|date=June 14, 2002|work=Bedford Gazette}}{{Cite news|title=n.t.|last=MacRae|first=Nancy|date=May 14, 2004|work=Bedford Gazette}}{{Cite news|url=http://centralpt.com/upload/474/Reviews/12707_sltrib_oct2007_review.pdf|title=Salt Lake Choir renders warm, emotional plea for peace|last=Newton|first=Catherine|date=October 29, 2007|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|access-date=January 9, 2019}}
The following choirs have recorded the song:
- The Bach Choir of Pittsburgh and The Pittsburgh Symphony Brass (original performers). (2010). Cantate Hodie: Sing Forth This Day!
- The Georgia Boy Choir. (2014) Georgia Boy Choir YouTube Channel.
- Hickory Choral Society. (2013). Christmas Concert 2013. Celebrating 35 Years of Music.
- The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. (2014). Festival of Carols.
- Messiah College Concert Choir. (2012). In Remembrance.
- Millikin University Choir. (2015). Vespers 201: Sweet Music in the Night.
- Oklahoma City University. (2017). Christmas Vespers.
- The Washington Chorus. (2009). Christmas with the Washington Chorus.
In 2018 the Aspen Choral Society included "The Dream Isaiah Saw" in their 41st holiday performance of Handel's Messiah.{{Cite news|url=https://www.aspendailynews.com/arts_and_entertainment/a-musical-tradition-of-biblical-proportions/article_f1c00740-ff12-11e8-a78a-43b121b28170.html|title=A musical tradition of biblical proportions.|last=Croskell|first=Chapman.|date=December 14, 2018|work=Aspen Daily News.|access-date=December 30, 2018}}
Bibliography
- Rudolph, Glenn L. (2004) The Dream Isaiah Saw. Vocal Score. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
See also
References
External links
Porterfield, Eric. [http://nowsprouting.com/fifthavenuebaptistchurch/media.php?pageID=6&itemID=0 The Dream Isaiah Saw.] Audio Sermon. December 4, 2016. Fifth Baptist Church, Huntington, West Virginia. Retrieved December 14, 2018.