Text From the Book of Ecclesiastes
Adaptation and Music by Malcolm Dalglish
Commissioned by The National Cathedral Chorus, Jill Bixler, Director

“Under Heaven, Under the Sun” is a new setting of poetry adapted from the well-known Ecclesiastes verses from the Bible: “to everything there is a season.” (Chapter Three) This adaptation was inspired by the writings of James L. Kugel in his book, “The Great Poems of the Bible.” I was particularly taken with the Hebrew translation of the opening words of Ecclesiastes. In the more familiar King James Version the preacher says “Vanity of Vanities, all is vanity,” a somewhat cynical or negative view of life. Whereas the Hebrew translation, Mr. Kugal tells us, yields a more descriptive and less judgmental interpretation: “All is breath-like, evanescent, and so fleeting.” These words provide the inspiration for the chant-like alto part. The often-repeated words, “under heaven, under the sun,” maintain a prayerful, breath like pulse that harmonically underscores the text. It would be very appropriate for the rests in this chant to have audible breaths. One will note that the verses in the song list the familiar array of life’s many contrasting seasons, not quite in the same order in which the Bible has them listed. I’ve also concluded the song with lines that in the book of Ecclesiastes appear before and after this famous poem. The opening lines should be sung like a Celtic air with pure straight tone and grace note embellishments.

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