"Dona Nobis Pacem"
A Social Justice statement for choir and orchestra in 6 movements by Allan Robert Petker
Click Here to listen See the Music
Movement I - Light
Lux aeterna luceat nobis. Dona nobis pacem. O nata lux de lumine, concede nobis, quaesumus almis micare moribus
(May light eternal shine upon us, O Lord. Grant us peace. O light born of light, grants us, we pray, to shine with caring lives.)
Movement II - Justice
Poem on social justice:
Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained. Helen Keller
The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty! Pope Francis
Micah 6:8 What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Movement III - Darkness
Lacrymosa (tears)
Poem Attributed to Julius Caesar:
Beware...who bangs the drums of war... It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights...and gladly so.
Poem by Lizette Woodworth Reese:
When I consider Life and its few years - A wisp of fog betwixt us and the sun; A call to battle, and the battle done Ere the last echo dies within our ears;
A rose choked in the grass; an hour of fears; The gusts that past a darkening shore do beat; The burst of music down an unlistening street, - I wonder at the idleness of tears.
Movement IV - Hope
Navajo Prayer: Walk on a rainbow trail. Walk on a trail of song and all about you will be beauty. There is a way out of every dark mist over a rainbow trail.
"Hope" is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I've heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me. Emily Dickinson
Movement V - Faith
Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.
Movement VI - Peace
With malice toward none, with charity for all, ...let us strive on to finish the work we are in, ...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. Abraham Lincoln
Dona nobis Pacem (Grant us peace)
Alleluia!
"A Festival Gloria"
Watch a brief promo video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW_OhkEBrdI&t=18s
This 8 minute work has three distinct sections that flow together without stopping. The "Gloria" section that opens the work is exuberant and rhythmic. The "miserere" middle section is poignant and stirring. The "et in terra pax" section is assuring and comforting. Other accompaniments are available by rental including Brass Quintet, Chamber Orchestra and Full Orchestra.
Click Here To Listen
Click here to see the Music
"Touch"
A 3-movement multi-media work for chorus and chamber orchestra by Allan Robert Petker based on the paintings of He Qi, a contemporary Chinese Christian artist.
Movement I - God Touches Us
Movement II - We Seek to Touch God
Movement III - We Reach Out to One Another
Click Here to watch and listen.
For performance information, please contact Allan at apetker@gmail.com
"Te Deum to Music"
Hear the 3-movement published version with orchestra at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V8cMMu1D5c&t=7s
A 4-movement work by Allan Robert Petker for full orchestra or for two pianos and percussion
Movement I - God Is Singing Over You Click Here to listen ♦ See the Music
Movement II - We Sing to the Majesty of God Click Here to listen ♦ See the Music
Movement III - We Sing to the Grace of God Click Here to listen ♦ See the Music
Movement IV - Music Itself Glorifies God Click Here to listen ♦ See the Music
For performance information, please contact Allan at apetker@gmail.com
"Canticle of St. Augustine"
As Bishop of Hippo between 396 A.D. and his death, St. Augustine delivered some of the most beautiful Christmas sermons ever written; and the text of this work comes directly from one of those sermons. For Augustine the most inportant aspect of Christmas was not the manger scene but rather the central mystery of faith - the glorious paradox of the Incarnation, as recorded in the Gospel of John: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3,14)
Canticle of St. Augustine (catalog # JG0683 Gentry Publications, www.FredBock.com) is available for purchase from your favorite music retailer.
