And We All Look At The Sea… (2019)

AND WE ALL LOOK AT THE SEA… was commissioned by Nederlands Kamerkoor, De Balie and Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ. It was first performed on September 7th, 2019 at the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ in Amsterdam.

The text is written by the composer, after Händel’s ‘Children of Israel’.

“Noah’s children mourn, they are in bitterness;
sigh, and look at the sea in fear.
[Oh] How the mighty fell!

He that was anointed by God, and built an ark in His name.[Oh] How the mighty fell!

An Ark to carry life, to reign,
protect from rising tides,
a flooding weight,
keeping it safe from the rain that fell.

The sluices of hell!
[Oh] How the mighty fell!

Ours was the promise
That God would never avenge
His creation again, by rising tides,
Flooding weights and falling rain…

Ours was the planet,
A new promise;
A new covenant;
To reign forever

Now we brought the wrath upon ourselves.

[Oh] How the mighty fell!
[Oh] How the mighty fell!

Nature avenges,
Nowhere to hide.
And we all look at the sea in fear.”