Cecilia On October 14, 2011, the multifunctional centre Monastery Zijtaart was inaugurated by Veghel Municipality (NL). During the farewell ceremony the artwork I saw Cecilia coming, made by artist Margriet Kemper, was unveiled. To tribute this moment, the artist gave birth to a poem and invited the composer to complete this into a musical ode. This collaboration is a true monument for a whole great culture that irretrievable passes away and is dedicated to the Franciscan Sisters, buried at the cemetery located behind the monastery. The names of the Sisters, the magnolia tree, which grows in the courtyard of the monastery, and St. Cecilia, whose sculpture originally was placed above the gate, form closelly the lyrics's philosophy. "Starting from the spring of 2013 - as the magnolia blossoms a cycle of the performances will take place," Mrs Kemper says. "It will be the start of a new tradition as the blooming magnolia calls Cecilia to reappear, and with her the reminiscences of the Sisters. the composer
Ik zag Cecilia komen (original) lyrics by Margriet Kemper U hoor ik komen op een lentenacht, en al mijn duizend oren zet ik open. Hun witte schelpen gloeien in de koelte van de nacht. Mijn vlees, mijn bloed, mijn hart, mijn God, mijn trouw, mijn smart mijn woord, mijn lied, mijn wezen, als beeltenis en teken. Van verre klinkt een lied Nog meer richt ik mijn oren, maar wat ik hoor zinkt weg in duizend melodieën Mijn vlees, mijn bloed, mijn hart, mijn God, mijn trouw, mijn smart mijn woord, mijn lied, mijn wezen, in een voorgoed verdwenen heden. Een wind steekt op, uw stem verloren. En met de uwe al mijn duizend oren, tot weer een lente wacht. Ik weet Uw naam weerklinkt ín mij: Magnolia Soulangeana - Cecilia
Cecilia program note Momotenko's composition carries the name of the widely praised patroness of music, which brings harmony to performers and listeners. For ages she has been symbolising harmony, which extends further than music only. The patroness also represented the harmony on the portal of the monastery until it fnally closed its gates for the last time. In memory of the Monastery of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Mother of God, which closed in 2006, artist Margriet Kemper wrote the musical poem 'I saw Cecilia coming' in 2011. Composer Alfred Momotenko expanded it into an extensive choral work, a hymn to the past as well as to the future of the monastic tradition. Emotions around the last fnal chapter of culture heritage and the hope for new prosperity are intermingled. A choral work as a tribute to a closed monastery or church is a conscious choice. The musical content was strongly driven by my inner reflections of the current position (and opposition) of Art in our society nowadays. The philosophical content focuses on the changes of norms and values, which effects the religious cultural heritage and its vocal traditions, that are slowly disappearing, the composer Alfred Momotenko explains. Cecilia (by Margriet Kemper, Dutch) lyrics as appearance in score, edited, translated into English Mm-m, mm-m, my heart, Mm-m, mm-m, my existence, Mm-m, mm-m, my sorrow, In icon and sign. My God, my faith, my sorrow In icon and sign. I can hear you coming on a spring night And I open all my thousand ears! Their white shells are glowing In the cool night, Coolness, coolness of the night. My God, my faith, my sorrow, My sorrow, my sorrow In effgy and sign.
Mm-m, mm-m, mm-m, mm-m, A wind spreads its wings, your voice (is) lost. And with yours all my thousand ears. Thousand names, thousand ears, thousand names, far lost Until there... A new spring waits! I know Your name Resounds In me, resounds in me. Resounds in... me... (etc.) Resounds again, resounds, resounds in me..., Again... My God, my faith, my sorrow, My, my sorrow. Oh my sorrow, my faith, My God, my heart, In a forever Disappeared Present From far away a song sounds, More and more I focus with my ears, my ears. But what I hear now, sinks... Sinks, sinking, sinking (etc.) Sinks.. Away..