This article is about the composition by Górecki. For John Paul II's apostolic motto, see Totus Tuus.
Totus TuusOp. 60 (English: Totally Yours) was written for unaccompanied mixed choir by the Polish composer Henryk Górecki in 1987. Górecki composed the piece to celebrate Pope John Paul II's third pilgrimage to his native Poland that summer,[1][2] and the work remains his best-known, if not critically acclaimed, a cappella choral piece of the 1980s.[3] Indeed, Totus Tuus has been described as a contemporary classic (Wordsworth 2013, p. 49).
Score from the work
The work was performed twice during the pilgrimage: first time, at its beginning, on June 8, 1987 at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw and second time on June 14, 1987 at a High Mass held in Victory Square, Warsaw by the Choir of the Warsaw Academy of Catholic Theology.[4]
The libretto was taken from a poem written by contemporary writer Maria Boguslawska which is addressed to the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Poland.[5]Totus Tuus's form is ABA'CD, and marks a return to the simple homophony characteristic of Górecki's earlier Marian Songs.[6] The composition's texture utilises homophony to allow for a clear voice for the libretto, while the simple chant form is repeated to slowly build a musical affirmation of faith. Gorecki used a homophonic texture in other Marian compositions such as 1985's Marian Songs, Op. 54, and Under your Protection, Op. 56.[6] This simplification of texture also occurs in Gorecki's most famous work, Symphony No. 3, where a similarly simple, diatonic language is employed to evoke the sparse and repetitive mood of Holy minimalism.[7]
Analysisedit
William Helmcke argues that the devoutly Catholic Górecki derived the main motives in Totus Tuus from Poland's oldest hymn, Bogurodzica (Helmcke 2014, 136). These motives are a descending perfect fourth (from notes 3-6 of Bogurodzica); the vertical presentation of that fourth, which explains the numerous second inversion chords; incomplete neighbour (from notes 1-2 of Bogurodzica]; complete neighbour (from notes 5-7 of Bogurodzica); and voice exchange, which functions as Augenmusik (Ibid, 137).
Performancesedit
Franceedit
Aix-en-Provence choir Opus 13 performed the score in three concerts in 2011.
United Statesedit
The Royal School of Church Music St. Louis summer course performed Totus Tuus in July 2005 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.
The New Mexico Symphonic Chorus performed Totus Tuus at St. John's Cathedral in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in April 2012.
The Utah Valley University Masterworks Chorale performed Totus Tuus at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic church in Orem, Utah, October 2012, under the direction of Ryan Roberts.
The Choir of Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, DE performed the work on December 1, 2013.
The Louisville Chamber Choir performed “Totus Tuus” at St. James Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 25, 2024, under the direction of Dr. Kent Hatteberg.
Notesedit
^"Totus tuus, Op.60". classicalarchives.com. Retrieved on 21 February 2009.
^"Totus Tuus: 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine". crossingchoir.com. Retrieved on February 22, 2009.
Sourcesedit
Helmcke, William. 2014. At the 'Crux' of Henryk Górecki's Totus Tuus, Op. 60: Signification of Polish Catholic Marian Devotion (pp. 136–50). In Interdisciplinary Studies in Musicology 14. Edited Maciej Jabłoński, Jakub Kasperski, Piotr Podlipniak, and Ewa Schreiber.
Thomas, Adrian. 1997. Górecki. Oxford Studies of Composers. Oxford: Clarendon Press; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-816393-2
Wordsworth, David. 2013. Pushing Boundaries. Choir and Organ Journal: November and December 2013, pp. 47–51.
External linksedit
Performance by the University of Nottingham's Music Society "Mussoc"
totus, tuus, górecki, this, article, about, composition, górecki, john, paul, apostolic, motto, totus, tuus, totus, tuus, english, totally, yours, written, unaccompanied, mixed, choir, polish, composer, henryk, górecki, 1987, górecki, composed, piece, celebrat. This article is about the composition by Gorecki For John Paul II s apostolic motto see Totus Tuus Totus Tuus Op 60 English Totally Yours was written for unaccompanied mixed choir by the Polish composer Henryk Gorecki in 1987 Gorecki composed the piece to celebrate Pope John Paul II s third pilgrimage to his native Poland that summer 1 2 and the work remains his best known if not critically acclaimed a cappella choral piece of the 1980s 3 Indeed Totus Tuus has been described as a contemporary classic Wordsworth 2013 p 49 Score from the work The work was performed twice during the pilgrimage first time at its beginning on June 8 1987 at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw and second time on June 14 1987 at a High Mass held in Victory Square Warsaw by the Choir of the Warsaw Academy of Catholic Theology 4 Contents 1 Description 2 Analysis 3 Performances 3 1 France 3 2 United States 4 Notes 5 Sources 6 External linksDescription editThe libretto was taken from a poem written by contemporary writer Maria Boguslawska which is addressed to the Virgin Mary the patron saint of Poland 5 Totus Tuus s form is ABA CD and marks a return to the simple homophony characteristic of Gorecki s earlier Marian Songs 6 The composition s texture utilises homophony to allow for a clear voice for the libretto while the simple chant form is repeated to slowly build a musical affirmation of faith Gorecki used a homophonic texture in other Marian compositions such as 1985 s Marian Songs Op 54 and Under your Protection Op 56 6 This simplification of texture also occurs in Gorecki s most famous work Symphony No 3 where a similarly simple diatonic language is employed to evoke the sparse and repetitive mood of Holy minimalism 7 Analysis editWilliam Helmcke argues that the devoutly Catholic Gorecki derived the main motives in Totus Tuus from Poland s oldest hymn Bogurodzica Helmcke 2014 136 These motives are a descending perfect fourth from notes 3 6 of Bogurodzica the vertical presentation of that fourth which explains the numerous second inversion chords incomplete neighbour from notes 1 2 of Bogurodzica complete neighbour from notes 5 7 of Bogurodzica and voice exchange which functions as Augenmusik Ibid 137 Performances editFrance edit Aix en Provence choir Opus 13 performed the score in three concerts in 2011 United States edit The Royal School of Church Music St Louis summer course performed Totus Tuus in July 2005 at the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis The New Mexico Symphonic Chorus performed Totus Tuus at St John s Cathedral in Albuquerque New Mexico in April 2012 The Utah Valley University Masterworks Chorale performed Totus Tuus at St Francis of Assisi Catholic church in Orem Utah October 2012 under the direction of Ryan Roberts The Choir of Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville DE performed the work on December 1 2013 The Louisville Chamber Choir performed Totus Tuus at St James Catholic Church in Louisville Kentucky on February 25 2024 under the direction of Dr Kent Hatteberg Notes edit Totus tuus Op 60 classicalarchives com Retrieved on 21 February 2009 Totus Tuus was John Paul II s motto Thomas 108 Totus Tuus op 60 Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki NINATEKA Archived from the original on 2021 03 04 Retrieved 2021 03 18 Thomas 171 a b Thomas 109 Totus Tuus Archived 2008 11 21 at the Wayback Machine crossingchoir com Retrieved on February 22 2009 Sources editHelmcke William 2014 At the Crux of Henryk Gorecki s Totus Tuus Op 60 Signification of Polish Catholic Marian Devotion pp 136 50 In Interdisciplinary Studies in Musicology 14 Edited Maciej Jablonski Jakub Kasperski Piotr Podlipniak and Ewa Schreiber Thomas Adrian 1997 Gorecki Oxford Studies of Composers Oxford Clarendon Press New York Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 816393 2 Wordsworth David 2013 Pushing Boundaries Choir and Organ Journal November and December 2013 pp 47 51 External links editPerformance by the University of Nottingham s Music Society Mussoc Performance by the Choir of New College Oxford Opus 13 Website Helmcke s article 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Totus Tuus Gorecki amp oldid 1210852079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
