For "the sense of senses," David Lang filtered the 'Song of Songs' text to include only sensory descriptions, ordering them from sight to taste to intensify their power.
Composition History
David Lang's "sleeper's prayer" was originally written for boy soprano and organ, commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Jacaranda, to include the organ in Walt Disney Hall.
Composer's Artistic Vision
In "sleeper's prayer," David Lang aimed to create a sense of vulnerability by contrasting a small, fragile voice with the overwhelming power of the organ, reflecting a need for support and protection.
Recording & Production
The piece "stateless" was recorded with singers distanced from one another and originally released as a film.
Composer Biography
David Lang's mother was a Jewish refugee who found safety in Barcelona from 1935 to 1939, a personal history that inspired his piece "stateless."
Composer's Artistic Vision
Composer David Lang's piece "the sense of senses" is part of a series applying literary filters to the biblical 'Song of Songs' to reveal its emotional and spiritual powers.
Historical Context
The text for David Lang's "stateless" is a paraphrase of a letter written by Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, a famous medieval Jewish scholar, to his children after he was exiled from Spain in 1267.
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