To Everything There Is a Season Op. 21
Motet
[mix ch,(org)] duration: 15′ To be published late janvier 2026
Description
Few people today are aware that, in addition to film scores, orchestral works and chamber music, Miklós Rózsa also wrote choral works. The best known of these is the motet “To Everything There Is a Season” op. 21 for mixed choir, based on a text from the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes. Rózsa chose this text in 1945 in response to the impending end of World War II and added a joyful “Alleluia” to the last verse, “A time for war, and a time for peace.” Three years later, the motet was premiered by the choir of the First Methodist Church of Hollywood, and in 1951 it was published by Breitkopf & Härtel.
The motet, which lasts about fifteen minutes, requires a large and powerful choir due to the voices being divided in up to three parts each and dynamic markings up to fourfold forte. Rózsa interprets the different “times” in a vivid and expressive manner, particularly in terms of articulation and harmony. An organ accompaniment is provided ad lib. to support the choir. The later motet “The Vanities of Life” op. 30 is stylistically similar and was conceived by Rózsa for joint performances with this motet.
ChB 5401
choral score
To Everything There Is a Season op. 21
EAN: 9790004414026
40 pages / 19 x 27 cm / 128 g / stapled
ChB 5401D
choral score
To Everything There Is a Season op. 21
EAN: 9790004823972
42 pages / 19 x 27 cm / digital edition
Description
Description
Few people today are aware that, in addition to film scores, orchestral works and chamber music, Miklós Rózsa also wrote choral works. The best known of these is the motet “To Everything There Is a Season” op. 21 for mixed choir, based on a text from the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes. Rózsa chose this text in 1945 in response to the impending end of World War II and added a joyful “Alleluia” to the last verse, “A time for war, and a time for peace.” Three years later, the motet was premiered by the choir of the First Methodist Church of Hollywood, and in 1951 it was published by Breitkopf & Härtel.
The motet, which lasts about fifteen minutes, requires a large and powerful choir due to the voices being divided in up to three parts each and dynamic markings up to fourfold forte. Rózsa interprets the different “times” in a vivid and expressive manner, particularly in terms of articulation and harmony. An organ accompaniment is provided ad lib. to support the choir. The later motet “The Vanities of Life” op. 30 is stylistically similar and was conceived by Rózsa for joint performances with this motet.