In the Autumn of 2003, following a choral workshop for maritime men led by the late Dianne Loomer of Vancouver’s Chor Leoni, Terry Hurrel and Joe Renzi took on the task of forming and directing a men’s choir.
Twenty years later, Terry, now Nova Voce’s Director Emeritus, has composed a special arrangement for both choirs to perform together called “To Everything There Is a Season.” It speaks to the passing of time, which we all know, is fleeting. He shares some of his thoughts about his composition
“To Everything There is a Season” by Terry Hurrell, March, 2024
Physicists define time as the progression of events from the past to the present into the future. When in 2003 I asked Diane Loomer of Chor Leoni if she thought I was too old to start a provincial men’s choir, she answered “Never too old!” Now, in 2024 when asked to write a work for anniversary celebrations, the words from Ecclesiastes filled my mind. “There is a time for every purpose under heaven.”
We complain often that we do not have enough time to do the things we want to do, but as Michel Quiost, a Catholic Priest, reminds us:
“I have time, plenty of time, all the time that God has given me:
The years of my life, the days of my years, the hours of my days.
They are all mine, mine to fill, quietly, calmly,
But to fill completely, up to the brim.”
So, I offer the text of this work to both men’s choirs. There are, however, musical challenges too: uniformity of vowel and diphthong pronunciations, even on the word “TIME” itself, as well as rhythmic challenges. It is no accident that the work ends with a prolonged pianissimo, as time dissolves into eternity! Take time to enjoy!
