Beneath Night's Shadow

Based on a Lutheran hymn, Beneath Night's Shadow opens solemnly with solo passages for horn, flute, oboe and clarinet, builds to a glorious climax, then moves into several transformations of the theme. Clark perfectly captures the essence of the text in this lovely work for Grade 3 band.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 3 | Duration: 5:30

Instrumentation
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 3
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bb Contrabass Clarinet
Eb Alto Saxophone 1
Eb Alto Saxophone 2
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone

Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Bb Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
F Horn 3
F Horn 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
Baritone T.C.
Tuba

Timpani (3 drums)
Percussion 1 (Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Triangle)
Percussion 2 (Suspended Cymbal, Crash Cymbals, Tam-Tam)
Percussion 3 (Tam-Tam, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal)
Percussion 4 (Bells)
Percussion 5 (Chimes)

Program Notes
Beneath Night’s Shadow was commissioned by The Concordia University Chicago University Band, Dr. Richard Fischer, director and The Elmhurst College Concert Bands, Professor Judith Grimes and Professor Ross Kellan, directors. It is dedicated to horn player Jerry Egan, a member of both bands.

The work is based on the Lutheran evening hymn Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow ('Nun ruhen alle Wälder' – “Now all forests rest”), words by Paul Gerhardt, 1648, Cento (a hymn pieced together from the works of several authors), in Praxis Pietatis Melica, 3rd edition, by Johann Crüger. The melody, O Welt, ish muss disch lassen (“O world, I must leave you”), is 15th century German, circa 1490, adapted by Heinrich Isaac, 1539. The English translation of the hymn is a composite. Of six verses, I have selected the first three and the final one to set:

Now rest beneath night’s shadow
The woodland, field and meadow,
The world in slumber lies;
But thou, my heart, awake thee;
To prayer and song betake thee;
Let praise to thy creator rise.

The radiant sun hath vanished,
His golden rays are banishe
By night, the foe of day;
But Christ, the Sun of gladness,
Dispelling all my sadness,
Within my heart holds constant sway.

The rule of day is over
And shining jewels cove
The heaven’s boundless blue.
Thus I shall shine in heaven,
Where crowns of gold are given
To all who faithful prove and true.

My loved ones, rest securely,
For God this night will surely
From peril guard your heads.
Sweet slumbers may He send you
And bid his hosts attend you
And through the night
watch o’er your bed.

- Reber Clark