FAST FALLS THE EVENTIDE
Featuring music
of renowned classical composers, the great treasury of hymns, spirituals, and
folk tunes.
Including beloved
melodies from different traditions, nations, and time periods in guitar duet
and solo
settings
and as
part of an
orchestral fabric
1 A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
13 Were You There?/Goodbye Brother
Small-Clemente Guitar Duo
Fast Falls
the Eventide Liner Notes
By Mark Small
Since the 1960s,the guitar has enjoyed an almost unprecedented degree of popularity. While the classical guitar does not command as large an audience as its electric and steel-strung cousins, it has the ability to make uniquely eloquent musical statements and fit into a wider range of musical situations. I hope that the varied selections presented on this album will bear that out to you, the listener. For this recording, Peter Clemente and I have drawn on the music of renowned classical composers, the great treasury of hymns, spirituals, and folk tunes, and even one movie theme. The music comes from different traditions, nations, and time periods in guitar duet and solo settings and as part of an orchestral fabric. These diverse works all blend together here through the expressive voice of the classical guitar.
“A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”, one of the best-loved hymns of the restoration, is set here as a dialog for oboe, cello, and two guitars. To me, a main feature of the arrangement is the evolving harmonies that shift constantly under key melody notes to shed new light on the theme as it’s passed from player to player.
Some historians regard J.S. Bach as the greatest classical composer because of his command of the musical language and the range of his large musical output. These pieces, Prelude 2 and Fugue 2, come from book one of his great keyboard work The Well Tempered Clavier published in 1722. Although the works were written as instructional pieces for Bach’s family members, the beauty of the textures of the Prelude and melody of the Fugue take them far beyond the realm of mere exercises.
John Wyeth, a fellow New Englander, who, in addition to being appointed our nation’s postmaster in 1793 by George Washington, published two hugely successful volumes of sacred music, composed the music to “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”. “Come Thou Fount” was included in the 1950 edition of the LDS hymnal and remains a beloved choral anthem sung by members of many Christian denominations.
“A Map of the World”, penned by jazz composer and guitarist Pat Metheny, is the main theme for the 1999 feature film of the same name. The piece testifies to Metheny’s gift for composing music that possesses cinematic qualities and emotional depth that enable it add poignancy to a film, but yet stand alone as a strong musical statement. This guitar duet arrangement reduces Metheney’s theme to its essentials, scaling it back from its original setting for multiple guitars, piano, and string orchestra.
Peter Clemente’s guitar solo piece “Variations on a Chorale Tune” is based on Martin Luther’s popular hymn “A Mighty Fortress”. The variations move through fast and slow tempos departing from the traditional harmonization to touch on a range of musical approaches including a somewhat jazzy final variation.
“Waterscapes” is an orchestral setting of “O Waly, Waly” (better known as “The Water Is Wide”), a favorite folk melody that has inspired numerous interpretations by a great many composers and singers. I wanted to do something with the tune for years, and eventually worked my ideas out as a quintet for guitars and string trio in 1994. Feeling that these six views of the melody would be more expansive in an orchestral setting, I asked composer Merrill Jenson to orchestrate the piece in 1997. I revised his score and reduced the size of the orchestra in September of 2005 for this recording. I dedicate this piece to my father William F. Small who passed away two weeks before we recorded it. Throughout his 80 years, my father was always drawn to oceans, lakes, and rivers, and left his six children many beautiful oil paintings of lighthouses and waterscapes as well as an abiding love of the water.
Czech composer Antonin Dvorak is widely regarded for his symphonies (especially his ninth, “From the New World”), but also wrote a great deal of wonderful chamber music. The Allegro Moderato and Allegro Maestoso heard here constitute the first two movements of his beautiful Four Romantic Pieces for violin and piano. I have divided the piano part between the two guitars and invited a great Boston-area violinist Tricia Hopkins, to play the violin part.
The song “When It’s Time” was co-written with my daughter Meegan, who sings it on this recording. The lyrics are inspired by the dialog between Alma and Korihor in Alma 30:44 in the Book of Mormon. “All things denote there is a God: yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion.” As I look around at the vastness and intricacy of God’s creation, it seems incomprehensible to think that it all could have ever come into being without the intelligence of a creator with a master design.
The popular 12 Danzas Espanolas by pianist and composer Enrique Granados explore the musical sounds of his native Spain. Owing to the influence of flamenco music that Granados incorporated in these miniatures, many of the 12 dances transfer very nicely to the guitar. “Orientale”, the second in this collection, has a noble but melancholy melody. Evidence of the flamenco influence can be heard in the chord progression underlying the first section, which is repeated at the end.
“Abide With Me’ has always been one of my favorite hymns because of the beauty of its harmonies and the sentiment of the lyrics. The title of this album, “Fast Falls the Eventide,” comes from second phrase of the first verse. The lyrics describe the fleeting and changeable nature of life and the desire that grows in the hearts of faithful people as the years roll by and they seek the comfort of the Lord more earnestly. This guitar solo is a musical meditation on those thoughts. The final melodic phrase is a quote of the line “God speed the right” from the hymn “Now to Heaven Our Prayer.”
The lyrics of the two Negro spirituals “Were You There” and “Good-bye, Brother” touch on aspects the atonement of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life. The lyric of the first song asks rhetorically, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when he rose up from the dead? probing the depth the listener’s understanding of Christ’s death. “Good-bye Brother” is a simple farewell to a deceased friend. For this arrangement, I chose to contrast the somber mood of the first tune by introducing blues and gospel music elements in the second. That seemed appropriate since blues sprang from the need to sing about life’s vicissitudes hoping the process would make the trouble easier to bear.
The Small-Clemente Guitar Duo
After nearly18 years working together as the Small-Torres Guitar Duo (producing
six albums, publishing several books of guitar compositions and arrangements,
and giving countless performances), Robert Torres and I decided to take different
musical paths in April 2005. With this album, it is my pleasure to introduce
fellow guitarist Peter Clemente. Listeners will discover that, like Robert,
Peter is also a very gifted guitarist who is capable of taking the effort begun
as the Small-Torres Duo to new heights. Born in raised in Massachusetts, Peter
has played as a guitar soloist and with various ensembles and orchestras throughout
New England for years and won the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America
competition in 1986. Those wanting to get acquainted with Peter’s playing
will find his guitar on the right side of their stereo or headphones. His warm
guitar tone, sharp technique, and sensitive interpretations are sure to impress
new as well as veteran listeners.
1. A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief (music by George Coles, 1792-1858, arranged
by Mark Small)*
2, 3. Prelude and Fugue (J.S. Bach 1685-1750, transcribed by Mark Small and
Alan Hager)
4. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (music by John Wyeth 1770-1858, arranged
by Mark Small)
5. A Map of the World (Pat Metheny b.1954, arranged by Mark Small)
6. Variations on a Chorale Tune (Peter Clemente, based on “A Mighty Fortress” by
Martin Luther)
7. Waterscapes (Mark Small, based on “The Water Is Wide” orchestrated
by Merrill Jenson and Mark Small)**
8, 9. Allegro Moderato and Allegro Maestoso from Four Romantic Pieces op. 75
Nr. 1 (Antonin Dvorak 1841-1904, arranged by Mark Small)
10. When it’s Time (words and music by Meegan and Mark Small)**
11. Danza Española No. 2 “Orientale” (Enrique Granados 1867-1916
transcribed by Cuervas, Pujol)
12. Abide With Me! (music by William H. Monk 1823-1889, arranged by Mark Small)
13. Two Spirituals: Were You There/Good-bye Brother (traditional, arranged
by Mark Small)
Meegan Small vocals, track 10
Tricia Hopkins violin tracks 8 and 9
Holly Gornik oboe and Ellen Bridger cello track 1
*Recorded at Counterpoint Studios, Salt Lake City, October 19, engineered and mixed by Mike Green, produced by Kenny Hodges.
**Recorded at Soularium Studios, Alpine, Utah, October 18, Kurt Bestor conductor, engineered by Dan ?? Produced by Kenny Hodges, mixed by Mike Green.
All other selections recorded July 28-30 and October 15 at Great Room Recording, Tyngsboro, MA, engineered and mixed by Stephen Webber. Produced by Mark Small.
Mastering by Kenny Hodges
When It’s
Time
Words and Music by Mark and Meegan Small
When it’s
time we arrive,
For a while we can stay,
When it’s time for leavin’ we’ll go.
There’s an order to all and a master design,
This we’ll each in our own time know.
Feel the warmth of the breeze,
See the grain in the field,
Hear the geese fly over the trees.
The creator above has an eye on it all,
It’s not hard for me to believe.
Would it make sense if all our lives,
Result from random chance?
Evil and good, a happenstance,
Or is there really a plan?
Full moon in the sky,
Brings the rise of the tide,
And the frost brings red to the leaf.
The creator above has His hand in it all,
That’s not hard for me to believe.
Show me a sign the doubter says,
I must see with my eyes.
Just look around is my reply,
For the proof is in earth, sea, and sky.
When it’s
time we arrive,
For a while we can stay,
When it’s time for leavin’ we’ll go.
The creator above has been guiding our ways,
This we’ll each in our own time know.
The creator above has been guiding our ways,
This we’ll each in our own day know.