Prayer Bells
Encyclopedia
Prayer Bells is a choral concert piece by Tasmanian
(Australian) composer Constantine Koukias
featuring dozens of handbell
s cast for the celebration of Australia's 2001 Centenary of Federation (see below). Also comprising three solo cantors and a small male choir, the one-hour work premiered at the Federation Festival of Melbourne in 2001. Since then it has been performed in Launceston, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Wollongong and Sydney.
, as opposed to polyphony
or harmony
. This means that the melody or chant is used to create a harmonic accompaniment and structure to the chant. The bells are played in a variety of ways - rung, struck, bowed, rubbed and even dipped in water.
. Interestingly, the background of the Greek worship service is to be found in Hebrew chant, especially from the musical theory and practice of Hellenistic Judaism
. The Old Testament had a conspicuous place in the thought and worship of the New Testament
Christian Church; Old Testament quotations and illusions abound in the literature of the New Testament, and Jewish cantors
were often used to teach early Christian communities chant and psalmody.
The Latin
text used in Prayer Bells does not come from the canon of the church but is rather the joyous poetic expression of two respected medieval scholars, Sedulius Scottus
and Paulinus of Nola
, from the ninth and fourth centuries respectively.
's production of Prayer Bells at Tasmania’s 2006 Festival of Voices, Opera Opera's Kirk Hume described the effect of the bells as “intriguing and compelling – the sounds ascending like spirits into the darkness of the church’s high vaulted ceilings”. In the same review, Hume likened cantor Petros Kyriakou to a Greek Harry Dean Stanton
, praising him as a "true vocal magician".
at Birrarung Marr, near Melbourne's Federation Square, and a set of orchestral harmonic bells for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
. Kerry describes the handbells as "extraordinary instruments, an attempt to bring together the traditions of European and Asian temple bells".
The handbells are believed to be the world's first harmonic bells. They produce a clear, precise note instead of the chordal sound usually associated with church bells, which means they can be fully integrated into musical compositions. Among the 1920 quarter-tone (chromatic) handbells ultimately cast was a set made especially for Prayer Bells, in which Kerry says they "create a luminous haze around the deep resonance of the male voices".
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
(Australian) composer Constantine Koukias
Constantine Koukias
Constantine Koukias is a Greek-Australian composer and flautist.He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of IHOS Music Theatre and Opera, based in Hobart, Tasmania. He is well known for his innovative work in contemporary opera and other forms...
featuring dozens of handbell
Handbell
A handbell is a bell designed to be rung by hand. To ring a handbell, a ringer grasps the bell by its slightly flexible handle — traditionally made of leather, but often now made of plastic — and moves the wrist to make the hinged clapper inside the bell strike...
s cast for the celebration of Australia's 2001 Centenary of Federation (see below). Also comprising three solo cantors and a small male choir, the one-hour work premiered at the Federation Festival of Melbourne in 2001. Since then it has been performed in Launceston, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart, Wollongong and Sydney.
Structure of the Work
The work is divided into 21 prayers, some of which are performed by bells alone, the notes of the bells being used to span the Latin, Greek and Hebrew chants intoned by the soloists. Prayer Bells is based on heterophonyHeterophony
In music, heterophony is a type of texture characterized by the simultaneous variation of a single melodic line. Such a texture can be regarded as a kind of complex monophony in which there is only one basic melody, but realized at the same time in multiple voices, each of which plays the melody...
, as opposed to polyphony
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
or harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
. This means that the melody or chant is used to create a harmonic accompaniment and structure to the chant. The bells are played in a variety of ways - rung, struck, bowed, rubbed and even dipped in water.
The Text
The majority of the Hebrew chants come from early parts of the Book of Genesis of the Old TestamentOld Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
. Interestingly, the background of the Greek worship service is to be found in Hebrew chant, especially from the musical theory and practice of Hellenistic Judaism
Hellenistic Judaism
Hellenistic Judaism was a movement which existed in the Jewish diaspora that sought to establish a Hebraic-Jewish religious tradition within the culture and language of Hellenism...
. The Old Testament had a conspicuous place in the thought and worship of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
Christian Church; Old Testament quotations and illusions abound in the literature of the New Testament, and Jewish cantors
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
were often used to teach early Christian communities chant and psalmody.
The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
text used in Prayer Bells does not come from the canon of the church but is rather the joyous poetic expression of two respected medieval scholars, Sedulius Scottus
Sedulius Scottus
Sedulius Scottus was an Irish teacher, Latin grammarian and Scriptural commentator, who lived in the ninth century.Sedulius is sometimes called Sedulius the Younger, to distinguish him from Coelius Sedulius . The Irish form of the name is Siadhal.Sedulius the Younger flourished from 840 to 860...
and Paulinus of Nola
Paulinus of Nola
Saint Paulinus of Nola, also known as Pontificus Meropius Anicius Paulinus was a Roman senator who converted to a severe monasticism in 394...
, from the ninth and fourth centuries respectively.
Reviews
According to Gordon Kerry, Prayer Bells is the least dramatic and "purest" of Koukias's works, both in terms of musical style and resources required. Reviewing IHOS Music Theatre and OperaIHOS Music Theatre and Opera
IHOS Music Theatre and Opera is a Tasmanian opera company was established in Hobart in 1990, by composer and artistic director Constantine Koukias, and production director Werner Ihlenfeld to create original music-theatre and opera works.-Major repertoire:...
's production of Prayer Bells at Tasmania’s 2006 Festival of Voices, Opera Opera's Kirk Hume described the effect of the bells as “intriguing and compelling – the sounds ascending like spirits into the darkness of the church’s high vaulted ceilings”. In the same review, Hume likened cantor Petros Kyriakou to a Greek Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton is an American actor, musician, and singer. Stanton's career has spanned over fifty years, which has seen him star in such films as Paris, Texas, Kelly's Heroes, Dillinger, Alien, Repo Man, The Last Temptation of Christ, Wild at Heart, The Green Mile and The Pledge...
, praising him as a "true vocal magician".
The Federation Handbells
The Federation Bells Project commissioned the production of 2001 handbells by Anton Hassell and Neil McLachlan, as well as a permanent public installation now known as the Federation BellsFederation Bells
Federation Bells is an installation comprising 39 upturned bells. Located in Birrarung Marr, Melbourne, they were created for celebrations of the centenary of Australia's federation in 2001. They were designed by Anton Hasell and Neil McLachlan in collaboration with Swaney Draper Architects...
at Birrarung Marr, near Melbourne's Federation Square, and a set of orchestral harmonic bells for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia. It has 100 permanent musicians. Melbourne has the longest continuous history of orchestral music of any Australian city and the MSO is the oldest professional orchestra in Australia...
. Kerry describes the handbells as "extraordinary instruments, an attempt to bring together the traditions of European and Asian temple bells".
The handbells are believed to be the world's first harmonic bells. They produce a clear, precise note instead of the chordal sound usually associated with church bells, which means they can be fully integrated into musical compositions. Among the 1920 quarter-tone (chromatic) handbells ultimately cast was a set made especially for Prayer Bells, in which Kerry says they "create a luminous haze around the deep resonance of the male voices".