THE VOICE OF ONE for Soprano and Piano (2026)
I composed “The Voice of One” in 2026 for the 9th International San Colombano Competition for sacred songs composed for voice and piano. The text is from Isaiah 40:3–5, the King James Version adapted by me. The form is A-B-A, the musical language is tonal, and the duration is 2:25. The piece opens with an unaccompanied statement of the declamatory main theme followed by an altered restatement of it by the piano, then an accompanied second theme that is shared by both performers which closes Section A. Section B features a second vocal theme with an arpeggiated piano accompaniment. This section closes with a more homophonic accompaniment featuring rolled chords in the piano. Section A returns but with different words, so the theme is altered to accommodate them. This restatement is accompanied and features homophonic and rolled chords. The piece closes with a brief solo passage for the piano employing the main theme which ends on a half cadence. The text of “The Voice of One” follows.
The voice of one that cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.
Link to a scrolling score music video on YouTube.
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