the breath of life - Dan Forrest - Premiere Performance

Live recording of the world premiere performance of Dan Forrest's the breath of life, by Bel Canto Company, Welborn Young conducting, October 14, 2019, with the composer at the piano.
Texts and more details below.

0:01 1. et Deus inspiravit... (and God breathed...)
10:23 2. first breath last breath
19:16 3. the silent kiss
26:04 4. epilogue: time is

the breath of life is Dan Forrest's evocative reflection on the beauty and joy of new life juxtaposed with the pain of loss. Using choir, strings, piano, solo cello, percussion, organ, and electronics, Forrest creates a rich and poignant soundscape intertwining with profound and compelling texts from Scripture as well as classic and modern poetry. The emotional arc of the music beautifully mirrors that of life, from the miracle of birth to the bereavement of death, and the love that makes life rich and meaningful.

Audio recording available for purchase on iTunes, or for streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, et al.

the breath of life

1.  et Deus inspiravit… (and God breathed…)  (from Genesis 2:7, Vulgate)
Et Deus inspiravit in faciem eius spiraculum vitae; 
et factus est homo in animam viventem.
(and God breathed into him the breath of life; 
and man became a living soul.)

2.  first breath last breath  (Antler, 2006)
When a baby boy is born
     and the midwife
        holds him up
     as he takes
         his first breath,
Place him over
     the Mother’s face
      so when the baby exhales
     his first breath on Earth
        the Mother breathes it.

And when the Mother dies,
     her middle-aged son
                  the baby grew up to be —
       by her side,
             his head next to her head —
Follows her breathing with his breath
      as it becomes shorter,
               and as the dying Mother
      exhales her last breath
                  her son inhales it.

3.  the silent kiss  (from A Man Young and Old, William Butler Yeats, 1928)
In the long echoing street the laughing dancers throng,
The bride is carried to the bridegroom's chamber
through torchlight and tumultuous song;
I celebrate the silent kiss that ends short life or long.
Never to have lived is best, ancient writers say;
Never to have drawn the breath of life, 
never to have looked into the eye of day;
The second best's a soft goodnight and quickly turn away.

epilogue:  time is  (Henry Van Dyke, 1904)
Time is 
Too Slow for those who Wait,
Too Swift for those who Fear,
Too Long for those who Grieve,
Too Short for those who Rejoice;
But for those who Love...
...Time is not.

Bel Canto: (It.) Beautiful Singing
Bel Canto Company, conducted by Dr. Welborn Young is an ensemble of outstanding musicians dedicated to presenting exceptional, innovative, and engaging choral performances for all. Through music we strive to celebrate the entirety of human experience. We believe in the joy of singing and the power of live choral music to entertain, inspire, heal, build community, and express that which cannot be expressed by words or music alone.

[OscarWilde]

Want to say Sharon the cellist is the best...played with her feelings and soul.

[RietCronin]

Dan… thank you zo much…. I listened to jubilare deo when I was so depressed and o couldn’t see the light of day…. I kept listening to it and found joy and hope and a reason to hold on …. My mom had tickets to one of your concerts in Belgium and for a long time I cried tears of joy …… thank you for the most precious gift man can have …. To Feel and to take every note every chord and every man that is in that choir upon me and just listen. Because this is healing in every sense of the word thank you

[susanflakes]

These composers we are so tremendously blessed to have ALIVE! with us right now, feeding and making fat..our innermost being..our souls, yes..but poignant emotions..cleansing our minds with a brush of beauty..I HEAR the LORD say...HE will keep the music going to higher and higher heights...Ephesians 3:20-21..Thank YOU! LORD! Bless them richly as well...

[felicitaspswarayi]

This is so beautiful it is sublime. It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to sing this beautiful composition!

[toddwood]

Dan, I listened to this today. Here we are in December 2020. Too many deaths. Heartache over the loss of last kisses. So many struggling for breath on this day. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. Lord, thank you for the breath of life that is so easily taken for granted. And thank you for Love who brings unending life in death. Love wins. Our King, the Creator of our breath, shall triumph.

[sh]

To the choir and the musicians....thank you for the power music...and through you....the Holy spirit has ministered to me....
Watching my mom pass before my eyes.

The power of music to cleanse...to restore a broken soul...to heal a permanently broken heart....
Please read this to the choir and to the musicians. Your excellence in music...
Music ministry...to those in the world like me.

I'm losing my mom.
I'm Losing my heart.
I've collapsed on my knees. In tears..this music has lifted me up. The Holy Spirit has surrounded me with the power to stand.

Your music has empowered me to cleanse my broken soul.

I can not humbly say enough....

Except Thank you.
Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for your talent.

There is a broken world put there.

And you have just healed one of 6 billion....

The peace if Christ be with you all as he is with me now.

Thank you
A humble Thank You.
From Kentucky. Somewhere.

Thank you

[susanflakes]

Music that brings Heaven down to Earth..."for such a TIME as this"...

[susanflakes]

Early this morning when revelation came from the mouth of the LORD and I rejoiced to be comforted I was in the Will of the LORD..line upon line, precept upon precept...just before I drifted off to sleep again, I saw Marty Goetz songbook "PLEASURES FOEVERMORE" Psalms 16...SOMETHING HAPPENS HERE en force..in JESUS name! Thank YOU! LORD!

[susanflakes]

Psalms 37 in JESUS name! Thank YOU! LORD!

[leasamfordcommunitycentre]

was an absolute privilege to sing this with the Qld choir.. My favourite!

[riccimariagrazia]

Non ho parole... sei fantastico... tocchi le mie corde e le fai vibrare... è come se la tua musica raccontasse la mia vita, me stessa... ogni cosa che componi e ascolto mi manda in estasi... incredibile, mai successo prima con questa intensità... GRANE MAESTRO, GRANDE COMPOSITORE... Ho ascoltato tutto il giorno, Il tuo requiem for living: MERAVIGLIOSO. Anche questo concerto è bellissimo!!!!

[lilliyal]

Dan - this is genuinely one of the most beautiful compositions I have ever had the privilege to listen to. Brian Dukeshier recommended it to me after performing Requiem for the Living, and this has easily been my best recommendation I've ever gotten. I hope to be able to perform this one day!

[aliciar.m.]

Gracias. Esta música siempre me emociona, me conmueve hasta lo más íntimo. Parece como si el propio Dios nos abrazara...
Mil gracias Dan, que Dios te bendiga y te colme de infinita felicidad.
Un saludo cordial desde Madrid, España.

[daijiroukon]

What a beautiful piece it is. and it is such a painful piece as well. tears on my cheek all the way through. thank you, Dan. thank you for such a meaningful piece.

[jenniferdunton]

Thank you for such a beautiful piece. My mom's health is failing and I stay strong for her. This piece moved me to tears.

[shin-i-chikozima]

These people's splendid singing voices are beyond description, inspirational and comfortable to the ear and the mind, and will heal my tired mind due to the hustle and bustle of the crowds in Tokyo


From
Tokyo of the Land of the Rising Sun 🇯🇵

[susanflakes]

12:22. Ezekiel 12:22-28...NOW.. Ephesians 3:20-21 NOW....in JESUS name! Thank YOU! LORD!

[jane]

My daughter’s choir just did your piece From Dawn on High tonight at Syracuse U. It blew me away. I found your video with Rivertree Singers and Friends and then found my way here. You are a master! Thank you so much.

[rtgirl]

This is just EXQUISITE! Hope to perform this someday!

[susanflakes]

The TIME is NOW! In JESUS name! Thank YOU! LORD! COME ABD GET ME NOW! NO MORE DELAYS 3:27 OR DISAPPOINTMENTS...