Baba Yetu
Original Instrumentation
SSATBB Chorus, Tenor and Alto Soloists
2.2.2.2/4.0.2+1.1/Timp+5/Pno/Harp/Strings
[Perc: GC, Tam-tam, SusCym x2, Chimes, Finger Cymbals, Taiko, Ashiko, Shkr, Caxixi
Alternate Arrangements
Chamber Orchestration, SSATBB, SATB, SAB, SSAA, TTBB, Concert Band, Marching Band, Flex Band, Pop Strings, Piano Quintet, Solo Piano, Solo Guitar
Duration
3:30
Text
The Lord's Prayer (sung in Swahili)
Premiere and Commission Info
First performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Talisman A Cappella, conducted by Jack Wall, September 21, 2006. Commissioned by 2K Games for the video game Civilization IV.
PROGRAM NOTES
'Baba Yetu' is a Swahili setting of The Lord's Prayer, originally commissioned as the theme song for the video game Civilization IV. Since its debut in 2005, it's become an immensely popular choral work and one of the most critically acclaimed pieces of music written for a video game, winning a Grammy Award in 2011 for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists.
Missionaries of the 19th-century used Swahili as the lingua franca for spreading Christianity across East Africa; consequently, a rich tradition of vocal music arose that blended European harmonies with traditional African call-and-response. My setting of The Lord's Prayer introduces several new elements into this tradition: an explosive orchestral accompaniment, as well as a complex series of modulations to bring the choral setting into a variety of tonal centers. This became my template for many pieces to follow, particularly on my song cycles 'Calling All Dawns' and 'The Drop That Contained the Sea'.
REHEARSAL MATERIALS
AVAILABLE EDITIONS
Full Orchestration
Most-commonly performed orchestration to approximate the sound of the album2.2.2.2/4.0.2+1.1/Timp+5/Pno/Harp/Strings
[Perc: GC, Tam-tam, SusCym x2, Chimes, Finger Cymbals, Taiko, Ashiko, Shkr, Caxixi]
Chamber Orchestration
Significantly reduced winds, brass, and percussion (revised April 2017)1.1.1.0/2.0.1+1.0/Timp+3/Pno/Harp/Strings
[Perc: SusCym, Taiko, Ashiko, Shkr, Caxixi]
PIANO QUINTET
Piano Quintet version specially prepared for the UN Chamber Music SocietyPiano, Violin x2, Viola, Cello
DISCONTINUED EDITIONS
"ALFRED ACCOMPANIMENT" ORCHESTRATION
Legacy orchestration matching the Alfred choral octavos; includes parts for trumpets2.2.2.2/4.3.2+1.1/Timp+5/Pno/Harp/Strings
[Perc: GC, Tam-tam, SusCym, Chimes, Finger Cymbals, Taiko, Ashiko, Shkr, Caxixi]
Chamber Orchestration
Main choral octavo for use with full orchestra (SoundTrax available)SSATBB Choir, Alto and Tenor Soloists, Piano
SATB DIVISI A CAPPELLA WITH PERC OCTAVO
A Cappella version with optional percussion parts (SoundTrax available)SATB Divisi, Alto and Tenor Soloists, Optional Percussion
TTBB OCTAVO
TTBB Choir, Tenor Soloist, Piano
STRING ORCHESTRA
Educational String Orchestra arrangement
CONCERT BAND
Educational Concert Band arrangement
