To Speak to Our Time

The risk-taking composer of 400 published works taught for sixty-three years at Juilliard and Eastman, and has given masterclasses and workshops at over 300 universities world-wide. Having studied with Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, Randall Thompson, and others, he knows just about everyone on the twentieth-century American music scene and has received numerous awards including ASCAP’s “Aaron Copland Lifetime Achievement Award.” He believes that one should compose in the “energy of his time,” and is without doubt one of the greatest living composers and conductors. Sixty years of his compositions are represented on this album: from A Hymn of Praise to several works written in the last five years. Known for his optimism and “life-affirming spirit,” he is uniquely positioned to speak to our time.

Samuel Adler's “life-affirming” spirit comes through powerfully on this album. These texts recount God’s goodness on the journey of life —through the hills, valleys, and mountaintop experiences. The texts from the Psalms cover every emotion from pain to joy, disappointment to elation, from sorrow to hope. A Hymn of Praise affirms that “His love shall be our strength and stay while ages roll.” Let Us Rejoice with its setting for women’s voices and handbells is full of exuberant excitement. My Beloved is Mine was written in honor of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Gloriæ Dei Cantores, celebrating the long-standing relationship of the composer with the choir. Choral Trilogy opens with “Why have you forsaken me?” the Psalmist crying out to God, but then moves to the words from Romans 8 “The Spirit helps us,” and “nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God.” The final movement is full of praise, singing, dancing, joy, and hallelujahs. We are then taken to the comforting words of Psalm 23 in a lush and glorious arrangement, set in both Hebrew and English. The culminating work, To Speak to Our Time, was commissioned for the eightieth anniversary concert of Kristallnacht. In Adler’s words, “This music was composed to deliver a message to society today of the plight of refugees worldwide as we must work for a world of peace.” Adler presents the listener with a powerful pilgrimage from unspeakable horrors and pain to a feeling of confident peace and hope. The final work, How Sweet the Sound, is a beautiful setting of the beloved hymn, Amazing Grace.

Samuel Adler aims at “healing or repairing the world so that by our life’s work we would leave the world a better place when we depart from it.” He is well known for his ecumenical vision and for building bridges through music. It is this mutual vision and passion that brought Samuel Adler and Gloriæ Dei Cantores together.

In preparation for this recording, members of Gloriæ Dei Cantores delved into the composer’s works studying the texts, the compositional style, and the vision. Each choir member brought a distinct perspective, sparking lively discussions and unifying the vision they aimed to portray through the recording. Throughout this process conductor Richard K. Pugsley worked with the choir to bring their study, vision, and emotional connection to the texts and the music to life on the recording floor, bringing forth a message that “speaks to our time.”

Richard K. Pugsley is an avid storyteller as is Samuel Adler, aiming to communicate the texts set to music as authentically as possible and in true harmony with the composer’s vision. To Speak to Our Time is a musical journey with all of the emotions that make us human. Travel with us on this pilgrimage and may Samuel Adler’s music illumine your path.

From the Composer
“My settings of sacred texts have always had a very special place in my creative life, and the works included on this recording are very close to my heart, especially since they are recorded with such conviction, insight, and energy. It is this kind of music making for which every composer yearns, and it is more than fulfilled on this recording. My wonderful association with Gloriæ Dei Cantores goes back many years with quite a few recordings including A Prophecy of Peace under the inspired direction of Elizabeth Patterson. Now with Richard Pugsley's magnificent leadership, many more of my sacred music works will be made available. I am so very grateful for this magnificent recording, and hope it will be enjoyed by people of all faiths.”
—Samuel Adler