JACOB AND THE ANGEL
New Music for Orchestra by Robert Hugill Jacob and the Angel Postcards from the Fitties a short prelude, toccata and a kind of fugue Percy Grainger Molly on the Shore Mock Morris Kleine Variationen-form   Franz Josef Haydn Symphony 97		Jacob and the Angel (A nocturne for orchestra) 1-Noctune, 2-Ludus, 3-Aubade, 4-Love Song, 5-Envoi This piece has had quite a long genesis. In 1998 I was writing a piece about Angels for Crouch End Festival Chorus (this eventually became Here be Angels) and I found a short modern poem re-interpreting the story of Jacob and the Angel from Genesis. I was quite taken with the story, but at the time I could not see how I could fit the story into Here be Angels and put the text aside. Later on I developed my own text using words from other parts of Genesis, The Song of Songs and my own words (principally in the wrestling scene). I wove a fantasy around the original story, fitting my own ideas into the gaps. The result is intentionally homo-erotic even though, technically, Angels have no gender and are sexless. The final work was in five scenes and written for choir and string orchestra. This was premiered by FifteenB and the Camerata Santa Dorotea in 1999. I then began to wonder what happened if you took away the words. The result is this 5 movement Nocturne for orchestra. The basic story-line for Jacob and the Angel is taken from Genesis. I found the story rather curious, the slightly dead-pan way that the events are presented with no real explanation as to why Jacob so unquestioningly wrestled with this stranger. And he rose up that night, and took his two wives and his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over all that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said; tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. (Genesis 32) Rather than forming a continuous narrative, each movement in the piece forms a brief snapshot. Whilst writing I thought very much in terms of pictorial images, and inter-cutting scenes as in a film. My final scenario is something like the following, but each listener is welcome to put their own interpretation on the piece. 1 Nocturne: It is evening, the river is flowing swiftly through the valley and by the ford, and Jacob's camp is quiet for the night. In the distant hills a strange light appears, getting gradually stronger. Finally the light coalesces into a stranger. At dawn, Jacob and his family strike camp and everyone crosses the ford. Jacob is last. When he is alone the stranger appears and the two wrestle. 2 Ludus (Games): Throughout the day the stranger and Jacob wrestle, their bodies strongly contrasted. Whilst they wrestle, the water of the river flows swiftly past them. Though they wrestle all day, neither is the winner. 3 Aubade (Morning Song): By evening, the two are exhausted and lie down together under a tree, by the river. It is almost dawn. Jacob and the Angel wake gradually, still intent on each other and oblivious to the insistent call of the dawn chorus. Jacob is reluctant to let the Angel go. 4 Love Song: Jacob idly traces the Angel's different features with his fingers as the two awaken. 5 Envoi: Jacob is reluctant to let the Angel go. Finally the Angel blesses him and gives him a new name, Israel. Then suddenly as quickly as he appeared, the Angel disappears. Jacob, tired but happy, saunters down towards the ford to join his family.
	Sunday 21st September2003, 7.30pm The Salomon Orchestra Malcolm Cottle - conductor Tabernacle Arts Centre Powis Square, Notting Hill London

Robert Hugill's home page

FifteenB home page