An accomplished composer, conductor and lecturer, Eric Whitacre has quickly become one of the most popular and performed composers of his generation. The Los Angeles Times has praised his compositions as "works of unearthly beauty and imagination, (with) electric, chilling harmonies"; while the BBC raves that "what hits you straight between the eyes is the honesty, optimism and sheer belief that passes any pretension. This is music that can actually make you smile.”
Though he had received no formal training before the age of 18, his first experiences singing in college choir changed his life, and he completed his first concert work, Go, Lovely, Rose, at the age of 21. Eric went on to the Juilliard School, earning his Master of Music degree and studying with Pulitzer Prize- and Oscar-winning composer John Corigliano.
Many of Whitacre's works have entered the standard choral and symphonic repertories and have become the subject of several recent scholarly works and doctoral dissertations. His works Water Night, Cloudburst, Sleep, Lux Aurumque and A Boy and a Girl are among the most popular choral works of the last decade, and his Ghost Train, Godzilla Eats Las Vegas, and October have achieved equal success in the symphonic wind community. To date, Whitacre's published works have received thousands of performances and have sold well over 750,000 copies worldwide. He has received composition awards from the Barlow International Composition Competition, the American Choral Directors Association and the American Composers Forum. In 2001, Whitacre became the youngest recipient ever awarded the coveted Raymond C. Brock commission by the American Choral Directors Association.
As a conductor, Whitacre has appeared with hundreds of professional and educational ensembles throughout the world. In the last ten years he has conducted concerts of his choral and symphonic music in Japan, Australia, China, Singapore, South America and much of Europe, as well as dozens of American universities and colleges where he regularly conducts seminars and lectures with young musicians. Over the past few years, these loyal fans and supporters have moved online, spreading Eric’s popularity to an ever-expanding worldwide audience. Upcoming commissions include works for The King’s Singers with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and an oratorio - featuring full orchestra, choir, and soloists – celebrating the opening of the new Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, TX.
His music has been featured on dozens of commercial and independent recordings. His first recording, The Music of Eric Whitacre, was hailed by The American Record Guide as one of the top ten classical albums of 1997. In 2006, a full collection of his a cappella music, Cloudburst and Other Choral Works, was released on the renowned British classical label Hyperion Records. The album quickly became an international best seller, appearing in the top ten of both Billboard’s and iTune’s Top Classical Albums charts. Two years after its debut, the critically acclaimed release continues to be a top-seller. The collection earned a 2007 Grammy nomination for Best Choral Performance.
Most recently, Whitacre has received acclaim for Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, a cutting edge musical combining trance, ambient and techno electronica with choral, cinematic, and operatic traditions. Winner of the ASCAP Harold Arlen award, this musical also gained Whitacre the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award for most promising musical theater composer. Following its sold-out run, the most recent production earned 10 nominations at the 2007 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, including one for Best World Premiere Musical.
Mr. Whitacre lives in Los Angeles with his wife, celebrated soprano Hila Plitmann, and their son.
When David Heard
Eric Whitacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
he went up into his chamber over the gate and wept,
and thus he said;
My son, my son,
O Absalom my son,
would God I had died for thee!
The lyrics of Eric Whitacre's song "When David Heard" are based on a biblical story, specifically the Book of Samuel. The lyrics describe the moment when King David hears the news that his son, Absalom, has been killed. The opening line immediately sets the mournful tone, as it states "When David heard that Absalom was slain," foreshadowing the sadness and grief that is to come. Upon receiving the news, David retreats to his chamber and weeps. The repetition of the line "My son, my son" emphasizes the intensity of his sorrow and reflects the natural human response to losing a loved one. The final line, "would God I had died for thee!" is a deeply emotional statement that speaks to David's immense love for his son and his willingness to sacrifice himself in order to spare Absalom.
Overall, the lyrics of "When David Heard" are poignant and heart-wrenching, evoking the intense emotions that come with losing a loved one unexpectedly. Whitacre's use of repetition and melancholic phrasing creates a mournful atmosphere that reflects the biblical story's themes of grief and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
When David heard that Absalom was slain,
Upon learning of Absalom's death, David retreated to his private quarters and mourned.
he went up into his chamber over the gate and wept,
David ascended to a room located above a gate and there he cried.
and thus he said;
At this point, David spoke the following words.
My son, my son,
David lamented the loss of his child, Absalom.
O Absalom my son,
David mourned the specific loss of his son, Absalom.
would God I had died for thee!
David expressed the wish that he could have died in his son's place.
Writer(s): Eric Whitacre Copyright: Walton Music Corporation
Contributed by Mila C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.