Welcome to Music for Life, enhancing the Armstrong concert experience. I'm your host, Ryan Malone. In today's episode, we will play the first half of a concert presented in Armstrong Auditorium on April 19th, 2018. This concert was the world premiere of a new oratorio setting to music the illustrious history of one of the Old Testament's most revered figures, Abraham. The concert was presented by the Herbert W. Armstrong College Choral Union, faculty soloists, and a professional symphony orchestra.
So stick around as we replay the first half of Abraham today on Music for Life. Since our fifth season of Music for Life, we've been replaying select concerts that have taken place in Armstrong Auditorium. There was a concert that preceded this practice, though, which we'd like to play for our next two episodes here in this seventh season of Music for Life. We'll play the first half of My Oratorio, Abraham, which premiered here at Armstrong Auditorium April 19th, 2018. The concert was presented by a 70-member Herbert W. Armstrong College Choral Union and a 31-piece professional symphony orchestra, many of whom are on the rosters of the local Philharmonics in the region here, all under the baton for this concert of our assistant music director, Mark Jenkins. The two main...
soloists were yours truly in the title role, my wife Paula Malone as Abraham's wife Sarah. The role of Hagar was sung by mezzo-soprano Pamela Williams, a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as a frequent soloist across the United States. The small role of Isaac, which we'll hear in the second half of the work next week, was sung by Joel Hilliker, a faculty member here at Herbert W. Armstrong College, who is probably best known in Armstrong Auditorium performance history as the man who played King Sennacherib in our musical Undefeated, which was performed just a few months later on our stage. We'll hear the first five movements here without interruption to get us started. We'll hear the overture, an instrumental-only work in three sections, depicting the grand and sophisticated life of Abram before being called by God, then the calling of Abram, and finally his sojourning through Canaan and the nearby regions. Then after the overture comes a movement titled Honor the Victor, a celebration of Abram's victory over an enemy alliance and the rescuing of his nephew Lot. Then after that is a movement called Blessed, where Abram praises a king priest by the name of Melchizedek, whose voice is depicted in this work by the male chorus. Then a movement called The Best of My Best, where Abram sings about giving a tenth of his...
to this Melchizedek, and then a movement called Just Passing Through, another largely autobiographical work where Abram sings about his pilgrimage through this temporary life, traveling toward an eternal spiritual city.
Melchizedek, its builder, its ruler, and its priest. This officer of Salem, where he presently abides, is Lord of all creation, the priest of God. For each drop of rain, for each ray of sunlight, for each speck of grain, then what do we owe? When from this we heard, what portion is his to have in return?
The best of my best. Of my first. Which I am my best. Though he owns it. What joyous obligation. To make this dedication. The principal tenth. The chief of my strength. What blessings I shall share. From this oblation. I give to my own. The best of my best. The first of my first. My best. Passing.
You are listening to Music for Life. I'm your host, Ryan Malone. This is KPCG. In today's episode, we are playing the first half of a concert presented in Armstrong Auditorium on April 19th, 2018, the world premiere of the new oratorio, Abraham, presented by the Herbert W. Armstrong College Choral Union, faculty soloists, and a professional symphony orchestra under the baton of assistant music director here, Mark Jenkins. We just heard the first five movements, and we'll continue on with several more without interruption. We'll hear Adorn the Heart, where Sarai, Abram's wife, prepares for his return home and educates her maidens on the essence of true inward beauty. And then after that is a movement titled Promises, which propels a lot of the plot forward. Abram tells his wife of God's promises to them.
You are listening to Music for Life. I'm your host, Ryan Malone. This is KPCG. In today's episode, we have heard about the first half.
of a concert presented in Armstrong Auditorium April 19, 2018, the world premiere of a new oratorio, Abraham, presented by the Herbert W. Armstrong College Choral Union, faculty soloists, and a professional symphony orchestra. We'll hear one more movement to conclude today's episode and finish the rest up next week. This is the movement called A New Name. Melchizedek, again represented by a male chorus, and two angels, represented by a female chorus in this work, are visiting Abram. Among other news, they tell Abram that he and his wife will go by new names, Abraham and Sarah. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you return next week for the remainder of this replay.
Hail the righteous king, my ruler and my priest. As for you and your two angels, please stay and join this feast. Before you continue, let water be brought. Rest under this tree, and your feet shall be washed. Before you pass over, allow me to fetch a morsel of bread, so your hearts are refreshed. You may journey outside of our tent.
Three travelers rest Among them is one Most illustrious guest He came in my dreams And decreed The promises Concerning my seed Dear wife, now prepare My flower to pay Meashes a meal To turn into king Then I will fetch butter And make And the calf that our guests may be thin I give my best Of my best You have been listening to Music for Life, a production of KPCG 101.3 on the FM dial in Edmond, Oklahoma. From the Herbert W. Armstrong College campus, I'm Ryan Malone. Thanks for joining me.