Kate Moore Music

Herz Ensemble program

21 June 2025 – Zonsopgang Concert – Amsterdam 750 jubileum – Marineterrein Amsterdam

29 June 2025 – Zonnelied 800 jubileum – Franciscanenklooster Megen

Program note

A program featuring the song cycle The Open Road, a composition set to the words of Walt Whitman from the poem Song of The Open Road, and Cantico del Sole (Song of the Sun), set upon the original Umbiran text written by Francis of Assisi exactly 800 years ago. Although centuries and cultures apart, the two luminaries are bound through the love and appreciation for nature and sense of universal intercontectedness, egality, inclusivity and compassion. They are in communion in the way in which they reject materialism. Revealed through the chosen two texts, their paths are uncannily parallel. Whereas Francis of Assisi preaches humility, poverty and brotherhood, Whitman seeks transcendence, both seek “love more precious than money” as they set foot upon the open road, stepping away from the traditions and customs of their societies, to wander freely in the open air, where nature itself becomes the vivid companion to both as they embark upon their journey which is both physical and spiritual, where everything is in motion, nothing is static, everything is alive. It is the journey of the soul.

Herz Ensemble is a collective band set up by composer Kate Moore to perform and record her own music. Consisting of vocalists and instrumentalists, the core group is a mixed ensemble of violin, viola, cello, saxophone, clarinet, didgeridoo, percussion, piano, harp, electric guitar, organ and counter tenor. Their repertoire includes The Dam, that was awarded the Matthijs Vermeulen Prize in 2017, The dance cycle Revolver for violin, cello, bass, harp and percussion and the program Song of the Sun and The Open Road, for counter tenor, saxophone, harp and percussion. Herz Ensemble is an initiative of Stichting Magnolias for Ears.

Performers:

Kaspar Kröner – counter tenor
Tom Sanderman – saxophone
Beate Loonstra – harp
Meiyi Lee – vibraphone

Program:

1_Whoever you are come forth – solo saxophone
2_Lyre – harp solo
3_I will be honest with you – counter tenor & ensemble
4_We must not stop here – counter tenor & ensemble
5_Whoever you are come forth – counter tenor, vibraphone
6_Spel 1 from Coral Speak – vibraphone solo
7_Deus meus et omnia – counter tenor & ensemble
8_Cantico del Sole – counter tenor & ensemble

Song of the Sun and The Open Road

Text

I.

Whoever you are, come forth! or man or woman come forth! 
You must not stay sleeping and dallying there in the house, though you built it, or though it has been built for you. 
Out of the dark confinement! out from behind the screen! 
It is useless to protest, I know all and expose it. 
Behold through you as bad as the rest, 
Through the laughter, dancing, dining, supping, of people, 
Inside of dresses and ornaments, inside of those wash’d and trimm’d faces, 
Behold a secret silent loathing and despair. 
No husband, no wife, no friend, trusted to hear the confession, 
Another self, a duplicate of every one, skulking and hiding it goes, 
Formless and wordless through the streets of the cities, polite and bland in the parlors, 
In the cars of railroads, in steamboats, in the public assembly, 
Home to the houses of men and women, at the table, in the bedroom, everywhere, 
Smartly attired, countenance smiling, form upright, death under the breast-bones, hell under the skull-bones, 
Under the broadcloth and gloves, under the ribbons and artificial flowers, 
Keeping fair with the customs, speaking not a syllable of itself, 
Speaking of anything else but never of itself. 

Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road, London The St Catherine Press

II.

I will be honest with you, 
I do not offer the old smooth prizes, but offer rough new prizes, 
These are the days that must happen to you: 
You shall not heap up what is call’d riches, 
You shall scatter with lavish hand all that you earn or achieve, 
You but arrive at the city to which you were destin’d, you hardly settle yourself to satisfaction before you are call’d by an irresistible call to depart…

Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road, London The St Catherine Press

III.

We must not stop here,
However sweet these laid-up stores, however convenient this dwelling we cannot remain here,
However shelter’d this port and however calm these waters we must not anchor here,
However welcome the hospitality that surrounds us we are permitted to receive it but a little while.

Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road, London The St Catherine Press

IV.

Deus meus et omnia…

St Francis Assisi

V.

Original text in Umbrian dialect:

Altissimu, omnipotente bon Signore,
Tue so le laude, la gloria e l’honore et onne benedictione.

Ad Te solo, Altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ène dignu te mentouare.

Laudato sie, mi Signore cum tucte le Tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate Sole,
lo qual è iorno, et allumini noi per lui.
Et ellu è bellu e radiante cum grande splendore:
de Te, Altissimo, porta significatione.

Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora Luna e le stelle:
in celu l’ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.

Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Uento
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo,
per lo quale, a le Tue creature dài sustentamento.

Laudato si, mi Signore, per sor’Acqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.

Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte:
ed ello è bello et iucundo et robustoso et forte.

Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora nostra matre Terra,
la quale ne sustenta et gouerna,
et produce diuersi fructi con coloriti fior et herba.

Laudato si, mi Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo Tuo amore
et sostengono infirmitate et tribulatione.

Beati quelli ke ‘l sosterranno in pace,
ka da Te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.

Laudato si mi Signore, per sora nostra Morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo uiuente pò skappare:
guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali;
beati quelli ke trouarà ne le Tue sanctissime uoluntati,
ka la morte secunda no ‘l farrà male.

Laudate et benedicete mi Signore et rengratiate
e seruiteli cum grande humilitate.

St Francis Assisi

Notes: so=sono, si=sii (be!), mi=mio, ka=perché, u and v are both written as u, sirano=saranno

English Translation:

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, 
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honour, and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong, 
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, 
especially Sir Brother Sun, 
who brings the day; and you give light through him. 
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendour! 
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, 
in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, 
and through the air, cloudy and serene, 
and every kind of weather through which you give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, 
through whom you light the night and he is beautiful 
and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, 
who sustains us and governs us and who produces 
varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love, 
and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace 
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, 
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin. 
Blessed are those who will find Your most holy will, 
for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.

Translation by the Franciscan Friars Third Order Regular Archived 2010-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 5 October 2016.

Nederlandse Vertaling (Geschriften van Franciscus, 2006)

Allerhoogste, almachtige, goede Heer,
van U zijn de lof, de roem, de eer en alle zegen.
U alleen, Allerhoogste, komen zij toe
en geen mens is waardig uw naam te noemen.
Wees geprezen, mijn Heer met al uw schepselen,
vooral door mijnheer broeder zon,
die de dag is en door wie Gij ons verlicht.
En hij is mooi en straalt met grote pracht;
van U, Allerhoogste, draagt hij het teken.
Wees geprezen, mijn Heer, door zuster maan en de sterren.
Aan de hemel hebt Gij ze gevormd, helder en kostbaar en mooi.
Wees geprezen, mijn Heer, door broeder wind
en door de lucht, bewolkt of helder, en ieder jaargetijde,
door wie Gij het leven van uw schepselen onderhoudt.
Wees geprezen, mijn Heer, door zuster water,
die heel nuttig is en nederig, kostbaar en kuis.
Wees geprezen, mijn Heer, door broeder vuur,
door wie Gij voor ons de nacht verlicht;
en hij is mooi en vrolijk, stoer en sterk.
Wees geprezen, mijn Heer, door onze zuster, moeder aarde,die ons voedt en leidt,
en allerlei vruchten voortbrengt, bonte bloemen en planten.
Wees geprezen, mijn Heer, door wie omwille van uw liefde
vergiffenis schenken, en ziekte en verdrukking dragen.
Gelukkig wie dat dragen in vrede,

want door U, Allerhoogste, worden zij gekroond.
Wees geprezen, mijn Heer, door onze zuster de lichamelijke dood,
die geen levend mens kan ontvluchten.
Wee hen die in doodzonde sterven;
gelukkig wie zij in uw allerheiligste wil vindt,
want de tweede dood zal hun geen kwaad doen.
Prijs en zegen mijn Heer,
en dank en dien Hem in grote nederigheid. 

 G.P. Freeman en anderen, Franciscus van Assisi – De Geschriften. Haarlem: Gottmer, 2006 (2e druk)