Classically trained at the Leeds College of Music and with a music diploma to his name (LGSM), Adrian's musical career spans twenty-five years. During this time he has produced six major concept works and thirteen solo albums. He has performed extensively in the United Kingdom, Israel, the United States, Australia, and throughout Europe, and has had many TV and radio performances world-wide.
He has received major commissions (BBC Radio 1 'The Virgin', Prospects 'Beautiful or What?!', Shoresh 'City of Peace') recorded with major orchestras (Royal Philharmonic 'The Passion' and the Dutch Metropole Orchestra), and TV and Radio highlights include ITV and NCRV Holland's productions of 'The Passion', HTV's special musical documentary of 'Song of an Exile' recorded at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, and BBC Radio 1's premiere broadcasts of 'The Passion' and 'The Virgin'.
His albums have sold half a million copies, and his audience is drawn from the wide spectrum of those who consider themselves lovers of classical and contemporary music.
Music has been his 'first love' since the age of six. He is an accomplished pianist and guitarist, and he has carried his songs on album and in concert to tens of thousands over the years.
June 1995 saw the premier release of Adrian's major, two album concept work 'City of Peace'. The work explores the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, drawing on poems written by Jewish authors spanning from six thousand years ago to the present day. City of Peace also comes as a climax to eleven years of searching and discovery that began with a journey into the lives of Jewish men, women, and children caught up in the Nazi Holocaust.
"It is eleven years since I walked through the gates of Bergen Belsen. I shall never forget that day; it changed me in ways I couldn't have imagined. Music is, in the end, the language of my heart, so not surprisingly much of my writing since then expresses the search for answers and meaning in all that the Holocaust and Jewish history opens up in us." - Adrian Snell
Adrian's most recent album release is a new, large scale work - 'The Cry, A Requiem for the Lost Child'. This features the choir of Winchester Cathedral and the Wellspring String Ensemble alongside his own voice and that of Natasja Gorlee. Also featured is American solo violinist Rebecca Engstrom.
Working within the Requiem structure, Adrian, with author Murray Watts, has woven the authentic words of children who have suffered war, conflict and ethnic cleansing. The work was originally inspired by the children's memorial at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.
In the last two years Adrian has also designed and developed an interactive workshop entitled 'Music in our Lives', a concept equally relevant to musicians and non-musicians. Here an unusual and innovative use of sound and music-making is employed to encourage 'out of the box' thinking and a look at various aspects of life, communication, and relationships in unexpected and challenging ways.
Adrian is also a fully trained Music Therapist holding the post graduate diploma in Music Therapy (Dip. Mus. Th.) awarded by the University of Bristol through the faculty of medicine.
Adrian has also been a guest presenter on programmes for BBC TV (U.K), EO TV (Holland) and Heartrock TV (Israel).
Betrayal
Adrian Snell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is something I must do
There's a crowd of people waiting
And they're waiting here for you.
Do it quickly, brother Judas
For I know my time has come
But your weapons won't be needed
Surely you were with this Jesus
When the business first began?
I don't understand you question
And I never knew the man.
I could swear I saw you with him
Well that's something I deny
But you're clearly Galilean
You're mistaken, that's a lie!
Listen to me
God knows I have never seen this man before today
How can I convince you there's no truth in what you say?
God knows I deny the accusations you have made
How can I convince you I've no knowledge of his way?
How can I convince you I've no knowledge of his way?
Did I hear a c*** crow - leave me now - what was it Jesus said?
Did I hear a c*** crow once again - what was it Jesus said?
I heard a c*** crow - Jesus - I remember what you said.
The song "Betrayal" by Adrian Snell is a stirring portrayal of the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The first few lines of the song set the scene, as Judas Iscariot prepares to betray Jesus to the Roman authorities. He approaches Jesus with a greeting of "Peace be with you, Teacher," but Jesus is already aware of what is about to happen. He encourages Judas to get it over with quickly, as he knows that his time has come. However, Jesus assures Judas that violence is not necessary, as all of his friends have already left him.
The second verse of "Betrayal" features a dialogue between Peter and someone who accuses him of being a follower of Jesus. Initially, Peter denies knowing Jesus, but the accuser persists, claiming that he saw Peter with Jesus. Peter then becomes more defensive, insisting that he has never seen Jesus before. The dialogue ends with Peter remembering what Jesus had said about the crowing of a rooster, which he hears in the distance.
Line by Line Meaning
Peace be with you, Teacher
Judas greets Jesus before the betrayal
This is something I must do
Judas has made up his mind to carry out the betrayal
There's a crowd of people waiting
The Jewish leaders and their supporters are waiting to arrest Jesus
And they're waiting here for you.
The crowd wants to see Jesus arrested and taken away
Do it quickly, brother Judas
Jesus instructs Judas to carry out the betrayal quickly
For I know my time has come
Jesus is aware that his arrest and crucifixion are imminent
But your weapons won't be needed
Jesus tells Judas that violence is not necessary
You can see my friends have gone.
Jesus' disciples have already fled the scene
Surely you were with this Jesus
The servant girl recognizes Peter as one of Jesus' followers
When the business first began?
She is asking if Peter was with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry
I don't understand your question
Peter denies being with Jesus
And I never knew the man.
Peter denies knowing Jesus at all
I could swear I saw you with him
The servant girl persists in questioning Peter
Well that's something I deny
Peter denies being with Jesus again
But you're clearly Galilean
The others recognize Peter as a Galilean based on his accent
You're mistaken, that's a lie!
Peter once again vehemently denies knowing Jesus
Listen to me
Peter's desperate plea to be heard
God knows I have never seen this man before today
Peter swears that he has never met Jesus before
How can I convince you there's no truth in what you say?
Peter is trying to convince the crowd that he is innocent
God knows I deny the accusations you have made
Peter continues to deny any involvement with Jesus
How can I convince you I've no knowledge of his way?
Peter is trying to convince the crowd that he knows nothing of Jesus' teachings
Did I hear a c*** crow - leave me now - what was it Jesus said?
Peter recognizes that he has just betrayed Jesus as he hears the rooster crowing
Did I hear a c*** crow once again - what was it Jesus said?
Peter is remembering Jesus' words about his imminent betrayal
I heard a c*** crow - Jesus - I remember what you said.
Peter begins to realize the gravity of his betrayal as he remembers Jesus' words
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Miriam Lowde, Beth Harrison, Adrian Snell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
undividedself1
It's like an actual Christian version of Jesus Christ Superstar... and with better piano parts!