Songs from the Dead Sea Scrolls - Series A - The Thanksgiving Scroll by Wilbur Skeels

Program Note

The Dead Sea Scrolls form a library of thousands of individual fragments and more than 1000 different documents in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 1st century A.D. They are the greatest manuscript find of the 20th century. The so-called Thanksgiving Scroll or Scroll of the Hodayot was found in 1947 and published in 1954. It is usually dated to 200-100 B.C. and is characterized by its lofty mysticism and intense spirituality.

In 1996 scholar Martin Abegg's translation of the Thanksgiving Scroll (1QH) appeared, and for the first time the ordinary English reader could get a sense of the style of the many fragmentary pieces that had been assembled. Much is very similar to the familiar Hebrew text of the Bible. But every so often, unusual metaphors and concepts appear to delight and intrigue. These have become the raw material for the original lyrics of this song cycle for mixed voices a cappella.

Grace At All Times sounds the classical theme that we exist, moment to moment, only by the grace of God. The Limitless Plain is a new metaphor for the liberating habitation (the 'higher ground' of gospel song) of the person of faith, whose destiny is to 'know the soul' of God. To the old trope of humans being as weak as clay is now added the poignant detail that this clay is 'kneaded with water.' Light Shines Out is a song of pure exhilaration. Nothing More to Be Said offers a new metaphor, the 'ink of memory' suggesting that all knowledge is preserved in the mind of God and inspires our own words. That an ancient text could inspire music after 2,100 years is perhaps an appropriate proof of that concept. As far as can be determined, this is the first musical setting in English of any texts from the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is dedicated to the composer's eldest son, Andrew.

From the program notes for the premiere performance:
Los Robles Master Chorale, California, May 2005.

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