Hymning by Robert Honstein

Performance by Michael Burritt
http://www.michaelburritt.com

Audio and Video by Four/Ten Media
http://fourtenmedia.net

Composition by Robert Honstein
http://www.roberthonstein.com

Sheet music available at
https://www.mkt.com/roberthonstein/it...

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ABOUT THE PIECE

Hymning (2016)

Commissioned by Michael Burritt

I grew up singing and playing hymns. I’m not particularly religious, but somehow they stuck with me. I love them for that. I love how they’ve always been there. How they never fail to reach me, to draw out some long forgotten feeling. They’re like an old friend: we don’t keep in touch so well, but when we see each other we pick up where we left off. My piece Hymning is a kind of daydream, a quiet stroll through hazy recollections of these tunes. I don’t think I quote anything specifically, rather it’s a sort of fantasy, an extended riff on little phrases that feel similar to probably hundreds of different tunes. After a long, meandering first section the music finds it’s way back to the beginning. On second look the tune takes a few unexpected turns. Digressions lead to wistful flourishes and unexpected tonal detours before returning once again to the opening idea. The piece ends, but I think there’s a sense it might still be going, quietly, barely heard, somewhere off in the distance. I can pick up this thread any time. It’s always there. Hymning was commissioned by Michael Burritt and premiered in November 2016 at PASIC.

-Robert Honstein