Jeffrey Van

Fourteen Angels

The intertwining of friendship and the guitar engendered this composition. Christine and Jerry da Silva are close friends of Kurt Wolf, with whom Jerry studies guitar, Kurt is my close friend, who studied with me for his MM in classical guitar at the University of Minnesota. Following the tragic loss of their infant daughter, Elena, at the age of one month, Kurt commissioned this work for chorus and guitar to offer his friends the gift of something lasting in the face of impermanence. As requested, I incorporated the Catalan carol, El Noi de la Mare, which is also famous as a guitar solo. It was always the father's intention that this gift would eventually be placed inservice as a soothing lullaby, one which he had planned to play frequently for his infant child. '
-Jeffrey Van