Voice Of The River was commissioned in 1997 for performance by St Peters Chorale, directed by Graeme Morton. It received its premiere at St Peters Lutheran College Chapel, Brisbane, Australia, on November 29, 1997. The work draws upon two texts: Victor Carell’s poem of 1992 entitled Voice Of The River, and excerpts from a hymn of circa 1170-1200, entitled The Dulcis Jesu Memoria. Victor Carell’s Voice Of The River, a poem of three verses, draws on a series of images that address “love” as it is found in some of its myriad manifestations. The exuberance with which the poem conveys its striking images inspired the rhythmic and joyous nature of the setting. The three verses are set at the beginning of the piece in close succession, later being repeated individually between verses of the second text. The Dulcis Jesu Memoria is concerned with the joys and frustrations encountered by the anonymous hymnist in searching for Jesu, the object of his adoration. The selected verses inspired a gently moving, calm but passionate music. As with the images in Carell’s poem, it was in particular the appeal of the hymnist’s allusion to music – “Jesu decus angelicum, In aure dulce canticum” - that secured the place of this text in my composition. Duration: ca. 5’30” Conductor’s Note With regard to the rallentando marking at bar 8, it is suggested that by the first beat of bar 9 the tempo be quarter note (crotchet) = 88 and by the fourth beat of the same bar the tempo settle at quarter note = 60. This suggestion might also be taken into account when effecting the rallentando markings at bars 18, 28, 56 and 84. Matthew Orlovich The text of Voice Of The River is used by kind permission of Mr. Victor Carell.