Aleta King

Songbook a snapshot of musical memories

Friday, June 16, 2017
Why The Promise artistic director feels new album is vocal ensemble’s best

A first commissioning and six original compositions mark the musical maturity of an Avondale vocal ensemble as it celebrates the launch of a fifth album.

Each song on The Promise Songbook has a personal connection to The Promise and its Artistic Director Aleta King. Some come from friendship, others from professional association; one, composed particularly for the album and placed at its centre, provided comfort at a time of loss.

The Promise Songbook follows Jesus: HIStory, a recording with Avondale Jazz Ensemble of composer David Pudney’s original compositions that reimagine the stories of the Gospels, Give Thanks, also recorded at Morisset Hospital Memorial Chapel, Faithful and a self-titled debut recorded in 2006.

King feels the album is the ensemble’s most complete work. The Director of the Conservatorium of Music at Avondale College of Higher Education explains why in this interview with Public Relations Officer Brenton Stacey.

You describe The Promise Songbook as a sign of the ensemble’s growing maturity. What about the album led to this description?
The Promise Songbook is like an aural photo album full of musical snapshots that have become the treasured memories of who we are and what we sing.

Musical snapshots?
Each song has a personal connection to The Promise. Two we commissioned, two are composed for us, some are dedicated to us and some we’ve premiered.

Two of the commissioned songs, “The Promise (How Long, Lord?) Parts I and II,” are named in honour of The Promise’s name and mission. Part one is your signature song. In the context of your ministry focus, is this important?
We’re often asked about the significance of our name [The Promise is based on 2 Peter 3:3-9]. So, having a signature song, it’s an opportunity to be more overt about our ministry. Our name bears a unique and profound message of hope, hope in a God who’s promised to redeem us and to give us eternal life if we choose to accept His gift.

You first heard composer David Pudney play the song after visiting friend and mentor Alan Thrift, a former head of music at Avondale, in the last hours of his life. It provided comfort at a difficult time. How so?
I sang the vocal part while David played. It was a poignant moment, contemplating the significance of God’s promise of life in the face of death. When words failed me, I found peace through singing.

Three other composers wrote pieces for The Promise to perform on this album. What prompted them to write?
Keith Kirk has a passion for composing and performing music to enhance Seventh-day Adventist worship. He originally wrote “Saints, Are You Ready To Go?” for the London Adventist Chorale and “Surely The Lord Has Been Here” as a choral benediction. He’s delighted The Promise has recorded the songs, particularly “Surely The Lord Has Been Here,” because no other ensemble from Australia has recorded it.

Christopher Sainsbury heard The Promise perform live with Australian vocal ensemble The Song Company and felt inspired to write “The Sphinx.” Christopher’s pedigree as an Australian composer is impeccable, and he wanted to compose something for us. That’s a real compliment.

Aidan Rosa is a longtime friend of The Promise, so when I asked him to write a song, he agreed enthusiastically. “Ego Sum Panis Vivus” opens the album and our performance of it during the Lake Macquarie launch was the first time Aidan heard the song performed by a vocal ensemble.

You’ve served as a director of many vocal ensembles. How does directing The Promise compare?
My relationship with The Promise is an important one because the students will likely become my professional colleagues. So, I take my role as a mentor seriously. It’s a privilege and a profound joy to see each member grow in skill and confidence. They’re so enthusiastic, and their voices are so young and fresh.

Purchase The Promise Songbook

The Promise Songbook is available from the Avondale Online Store.

Avondale Online Store

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Brenton Stacey
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Brenton Stacey

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Brenton is Avondale University’s Public Relations and Philanthropy Officer. He brings to the role experience as a communicator in publishing, media relations, public relations, radio and television, mostly within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific and its entities.