Baba Yetu
Purchase & Rental Links,
Program Notes, and Rehearsal Materials
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Original Instrumentation: Orchestra, Hand Percussion, SSATBB Choir, Tenor and Alto Soloists
Text: The Lord's Prayer (sung in Swahili)
Duration: 3:30
Year: 2005
Text: The Lord's Prayer (sung in Swahili)
Duration: 3:30
Year: 2005
Performance History: First performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Talisman A Cappella, conducted by Jack Wall, September 21, 2006. Subsequent performances include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Bangor Philharmonic, and in concert at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Disney Concert Hall, Kennedy Center, and the United Nations General Assembly Hall.
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.
FROM CHRISTOPHER: "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'."
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.
FROM CHRISTOPHER: "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
Reduced Orchestration
Most-commonly performed orchestration to approximate the sound of the album
2.2.2.2/4.0.2+1.1/Timp+5/Pno/Harp/Strings
Worldwide Rental: Boosey & Hawkes
Most-commonly performed orchestration to approximate the sound of the album
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]
Worldwide Rental: Boosey & Hawkes
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
Worldwide Rental: Boosey & Hawkes
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]
Worldwide Rental: Boosey & Hawkes
SSATBB Octavo
Rest-of-World Purchase: Musicroom
SSATBB Choir, Piano
North America Purchase: Hal LeonardRest-of-World Purchase: Musicroom
Piano Quintet
Piano Quintet version specially prepared for the UN Chamber Music Society
Piano Quintet version specially prepared for the UN Chamber Music Society
Piano, Violin x2, Viola, Cello
Score and Parts Worldwide Purchase: webstore
Educational Easy Piano
Rest-of-World Purchase: Musicroom
Piano solo
North America Purchase: Hal LeonardRest-of-World Purchase: Musicroom
Educational Guitar
Rest-of-World Purchase: Musicroom
Guitar solo
North America Purchase: Hal LeonardRest-of-World Purchase: Musicroom
Educational Easy Guitar
Rest-of-World Purchase: Musicroom
Guitar solo
North America Purchase: Hal LeonardRest-of-World Purchase: Musicroom
DISCONTINUED EDITIONS
"Alfred Accompaniment" Orchestration
Legacy orchestration matching the Alfred choral octavos; includes parts for trumpets
2.2.2.2/4.3.2+1.1/Timp+5/Pno/Harp/Strings
Legacy orchestration matching the Alfred choral octavos; includes parts for trumpets
2.2.2.2/4.3.2+1.1/Timp+5/Pno/Harp/Strings
[Perc: GC, Tam-tam, SusCym, Chimes, Finger Cymbals, Taiko, Ashiko, Shkr, Caxixi]
SSATBB Octavo
Main choral octavo for use with full orchestra (SoundTrax available)
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)
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
Educational String Orchestra arrangement
Concert Band
Educational Concert Band arrangement
Educational Concert Band arrangement
Piano/Vocal/Chords
Educational Piano and Vocal Solo edition
Educational Piano and Vocal Solo edition