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VERDI – Hebrew Slaves Chorus, from the opera ‘Nabucco’ – FOUR CELLOS

Other Identification:
“Va, pensiero”, also known as the “Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves”, is a chorus from the opera Nabucco (1842) by Giuseppe Verdi. It recollects the period of Babylonian captivity after the destruction of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BC. The libretto is by Temistocle Solera, inspired by Psalm 137. The opera with its powerful chorus established Verdi as a major composer in 19th-century Italy.

Verdi felt that “this is the opera with which my artistic career really begins. And though I had many difficulties to fight against, it is certain that Nabucco was born under a lucky star”.

When Verdi died, onlookers in Milan’s streets spontaneously began singing “Va, pensiero” choruses as his funeral procession passed by. A month later, when he was reinterred alongside his wife at the Casa di Riposo, a young Arturo Toscanini conducted a choir of eight hundred in the famous hymn.

Instrumentation:
QUARTET OF FOUR CELLOS
….
3 PDFs
] – General Score
2] – Cellos 1 and 2
3] – Cellos 3 and 4

Approximate difficulty:
David Johnstone had previously prepared this music in the key of F Major with fairly high registers for the first two cello parts – and was little played as a result. However, now he brings the music down a perfect fourth and into the vibrant key of C Major, thus making it far more useful for cello ensembles! Other small improvements throughout have also been made to the part-writing, so this can be considered the definitive, and suitable for all intermediate-to-advanced cello ensembles!

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David Johnstone lives near Pamplona (Navarre, Spain) with his wife Rosa and their two “Spanglish” children, close to the Atlantic Pyrenees. The nearest international airport is Bilbao.

He is interested in world affairs, politics, animal rights, and most sports (including being a lifelong suffering Reading FC fan!). Also passionate about Celtic culture and genealogy, he has traced his ‘English’ family back to 1280, although Scotland and Ireland have also shaped his background. And yes — he is half-ashamed to admit it, he loves silly jokes!

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David Johnstone supports animal rights, he is against any form of abuse towards them, and says a loud “NO” to bullfighting, foxhunting and any other animal cruelty.

TORTURE IS NOT CULTURE !