Himnos de los neófitos de Qumrán (1965-1975 Rodrigo), music

Himnos de los neófitos de Qumrán <Spanish> / Hymns of the Neophytes of Qumran (1965-1975) is a piece of choral music by Joaquín Rodrigo, on words by Victoria Kamhi de Rodrigo.

Abstract

"Para tres sopranos, coro de hombres y orquesta de cámara = für drei Soprane, Männerchor und kleines Orchester." The text is an adaptation of an extract from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Rodrigo interpreted the cosmic yearning of the words through music rich in allegorical content, as can be seen in the nine-note scale, with occasional glimpses of tonality, and in the writing for three sopranos to symbolize the three archangels. The orchestral forces are reduced to a minimum, with no violins. In 1975 two pieces were added, which are similar in character to the first, although in the last, more dramatic hymn, the male chorus takes on a leading role.

Editions, performances, translations

The first version of the work was performed in Cuenca [Ecuador] in 1965 as part of the Religious Music celebrations during Holy Week. The definitive version was performed in 1975, again within the context of Cuenca's Holy Week celebrations, and published in Mainz, Germany: Schott, 1990.