Musica animam tangens

SATB, a cappella

As a composer of choral and vocal music, there is always one extra thing to worry about other than the music itself—the texts. For this reason I’m always on a constant lookout for poetry which I might like to set in the future and, sometimes, I’ll find it in the strangest of places. This particular text I happened upon posted on the door of a college friend, Ryan Newstrom.

From the moment I read it I knew that I would eventually set it to music.  It expresses something that almost any musician knows to be true; that music puts us in touch with a higher power, something inexpressible and infinitely beautiful.  I asked him immediately if I could use it in a piece and without hesitation he said ‘yes.’

After deciding upon a Latin translation I found Dr. Byron Stayskal, Assistant Professor of Classics at Luther College, to do it for me.  He is not only a brilliant teacher but also an amazing pianist and passionate musician and I am eternally grateful that he agreed to take this on.  Dr. Stayskal provided me with a beautiful, poetic translation of the original text which I immediately set to work on.

This piece was written as a gift for the late conductor, Weston Noble.  His sincere, unending support of my music and guidance in times of trouble means more to me than words can express and, since he is the person who initially encouraged me to put the proverbial pen to paper, I wanted to attempt to give a gift worthy of his wisdom and humility. 

Musica animam tangens is the winner of the 2003 Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Contest sponsored by the American Choral Directors Association and is dedicated with love and gratitude to Maestro Weston Noble.

The Text

By Ryan Newstrom (b. 1979)
Translated into Latin by Dr. Byron Stayskal

Musica animam tangens
Maria vitae effundens
Flumina cor liberantia omnes amore amantia
Musica sonans resonans
Implens meam essentiam
Meam inundat animam
Velut fluctibus montem submersum
Ut tangam Deum.

Music touching;
Exhaling its breathless oceans of life
Currents that free hearts giving love to
All that open the sounds that fill
The mountain of my existence
And overflow my soul to touch
God.