Within the Walls

Within the Walls... A Symphonic Poem

Within the Walls... (ca. 18 minutes) is a one-movement symphonic poem for orchestra, soloists (tenor, soprano, descant) and two-part children's choir. The piece is dedicated to all prisoners of conflict and their families around the world. Although the text does not tell a story per se, the tenor represents the imprisoned husband/father, the soprano and descant the waiting wife and child, respectively. The husband/father is "within the walls..." of a prison cell and he attempts to work out his inner feelings of disappointment and blame. (Within the walls I only see the darkest side of destiny beyond these walls). The wife/mother has no choice but to wait patiently in hope (Hope is stronger than the walls that be, that be) that she will one day be together with her husband again. The child remembers the happy memories with his father (Remember when we used to play, you'd lift me up and then would say). The children's choir represents innocence and suffering (represented by the "ah" chorus) of children left behind. Their voices in the final chorus renew the symbol of hope and faith (Faith that light will shine through darkness). A high point is reached at the end with all singing optimistically: ... we will soon be free, soon be free.

Major Premiers: Kuwait & Vienna

Kuwait: Within the Walls was written and premiered in Kuwait on the occasion of a benefits concert for the International Committee of the Red Cross in May 1995. The performance was honored by the presence his Excellency Sheik Salam al Sabah of Kuwait, a number of ambassadors, other high-level members of the al Sabah family, Kuwaiti press i.e., Arab Times), representation from CNN World Report and other distinguished members of the international community. The orchestra, The Orchestra of the Arabian Peninsula, was made up of local musicians and singers living in Kuwait and nine musicians who were flown from London (a number of whom had played in Laubacher's Southbank International Youth Orchestra) to supplement the instrumental requirements of the piece. The choir was prepared by Mr. Stephan Lomas who was the head of music at a local international school. Mr. Lomas also prepared "Ali" as the boy soloist in the Within the Walls choruses. The opening comments were nobly delivered by Mr. Arnold Luethold, Regional Delegate, from the ICRC.

Vienna: The second major performance (with revisions now available in the current version) took place in Vienna's Konzerthaus as part of a benefits concert for the organisation Menschen für Menschen on 23 November 1997. Karlheinz Böhm was present and spoke about the work of his Ethiopian organization. The glamorous Burgtheater actress Andrea Jonasson was the narrator for the evening (in the piece Eisblumenwald).

Texts and Musical Selections from Within the Walls

Tenor or Baritone
Within the Walls I only see
The darkest side of destiny beyond these walls...

Orchestra / Children's Choir: "Ah" Chorus

Musical Selection: Instrumental and "Ah" Chorus (mp3)

Tenor and Descant
Remember when we used to play I'd lift you up and then would say:
"Above us are the stars forever they will be.
Around us is our home where we will always be free."
Why must you be within the walls?
Hear my prayer, Father. Hear my prayer!
We've waited so long, Father.
Come home, come home, come home.

Tenor
All alone within my four walls, am I the one to blame?
Why then must they be left to cry the tears of shame
And loneliness for the crime no one can explain?
If only I could tell them how much I love them
And my thoughts are of them. I will return to my home
Hear me, hear my prayer to you!
I'll wait forever for you to come home.
Forever, forever, if I must, if I must!

Soprano
Waiting for someone who's so far away!
Where is his ship? Has it gone astray?
"Ah"
You will return one day.
Hope is stronger than the walls that be, that be.

Children's Choir
Waiting for someone who's so far away!
Where is his ship? Has it gone astray?
You will return one day.
Hope is stronger than the walls that be, that be.

Musical Selection: Waiting for Someone Chorus (mp3)

Soprano and Tenor
We'll be together much sooner than they know.
Together, together, much sooner than they know!
"Love alters not with its brief hours and weeks
But bears it out, even to the edge of doom!" [Shakespeare]

Musical Selection: Trumpet Solo: "Hope" (mp3)
Musical Selection: Instrumental Transition (mp3)

Tenor
Hope is stronger than the walls that be.

Children's Choir and Descant
"Ah" Chorus
Hear my prayer! Father come home!
We've waited so long, Father,
Come home, come home, come home!
Remember when we used to play?
You'd lift me up and then you'd say:
"Above us are the stars forever they will be.
Around us is our home where we will always be free."
Remember when we used to play?
You'd lift me up and then you'd say:
"Above us are the stars forever they will be.
Around us is our home..."
Why must you be within the walls?
Hear our prayer! Hear our prayer!
"Ah"

Soprano, Tenor, Children's Choir
Hope is stronger than the walls that be.
Faith, that light will shine through darkness fills the day,
with the hope you will soon be free, soon be free!

Musical Selection: Finale "Ah" Chorus to end (mp3)
Scores for Viewing
Within the Walls Full Score (A4) in PDF format
Within the Walls Piano/Vocal Children's Chorus
To View / Print entire score go to SibeliusMusic