ONE AND ONLY (Full Mix) Trad. Arr. Stephen Arthur Allen

This arrangement of the traditional Easter Hymn 'Lasst uns erfreuen' (Let us Rejoice) of 1623, attributed to Friedrich Spee, resets the famous tune as a unison - 2-part - 3-part - unison round for any number of voices.

The second verse 2-part round entries and third verse 3-part entries are indicated by 'blinks' in the onscreen lyrics. The 2 part entry is at the half line. The 3 part entries are on each beat. My hope is that the deep theological implication behind these unfurling canons will be sensed as much by the heart as the mind.

The A CAPELLA mix can be heard here:    • ONE AND ONLY (A Capella Mix) Trad. Ar...  

This full mix incorporates two pre-existent musical ideas: the first is the series of chimes that open the concert overture JOHN O' GAUNT by Gilbert Vinter (1909-69) which I employ to both open and close the work - surprisingly (perhaps) with the hymn tune superimposed. These chimes serve in my setting as metaphorical of time (temporality) over which the hymn tune sounds eternity as indicated in my text. Whereas, at the beginning, the Vinter transcription (Time) serves as an introduction to the tune (Eternity), in the final verse it slips under the tune - a marriage of time and eternity. (The Vinter connection is a personal one for me, as I can now picture me and my family sitting in the Royal Albert Hall in 1979 hearing the Black Dyke Mills Band wining the European Brass Band Championships - a poignant moment in time, one might imagine!)

The second was suggested by Benjamin Britten in his setting of the same tune - there with the traditional text "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones." This suggestion was to use the four-note descending 'Hallelujah!' fragment as a steadily rising phrase during the final verse, reaching its exultant climax at the top of the tune. (A listen to the Britten setting will reveal how different both our approaches are, in spite of his suggestion.)

Photo credits Webb Telescope and Kubrick 2OOI: A Space Odyssey are fair use, educational purpose only.

This recording of ONE AND ONLY first appeared in 1999 on the album ACROSS THE RIVER. The other tracks, in order are (the various mixes available in the respective full mix video details).

1. HEROES    • HEROES by Stephen Arthur Allen (Full ...  
2. GREAT DAY    • GREAT DAY Stephen Arthur Allen  
3. LIFT UP OUR EYES    • LIFT UP OUR EYES - Stephen Arthur All...  
4. ONE AND ONLY    • ONE AND ONLY (Full Mix) Trad. Arr. St...  
5. REJOICE!
6. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER (PSALM 136)
7. THE GOD WHO DARES

© 1995 Stephen Arthur Allen. Laurel Songs (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org) All rights Reserved. Used by permission. Not to be further used in other product without permission