The Drop That Contained the Sea / The Drop That Contained the Sea / The Drop That Contained the Sea

The Drop That Contained the Sea
Works on the Theme of Water

Composed and Conducted by Christopher Tin
Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

01. Water Prelude
Sung in Proto-Indo-European
Variations on the word 'water'

Performed by the Angel City Chorale
with Soweto Gospel Choir, Shoji Kameda &
the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Proto-Indo-European is the earliest-known reconstructed language;
it is the root from which most modern languages are derived. In
linguistic terms, it was the original 'drop' that contained the sea.
The Water Prelude is sung on variations of the word 'water', ending
with an abstract version of an overture: an orchestral 'big-bang'
moment made up of melodic fragments from the other movements,
with the word 'water' spoken in ten languages featured on the full
album. First performed April 13, 2014 at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
by the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Choir, conducted by
Jonathan Griffith.

Translation by Andrew Byrd

02. Haktan Gelen Şerbeti - "The Drink From God"
Sung in Turkish
Adapted from a poem by Yunus Emre

Performed by Kardeş Türküler
with the Angel City Chorale, Jamie Papish &
the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

(inspired by water)

Commissioned by DCINY to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of
TURKSOY and as a gift from the citizens of the United States to
the Turkish People. First performed June 3, 2013 at the University
Concert Hall, Eskişehir, Turkey by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra
and Jonathan Griffith Singers, conducted by Jonathan Griffiths.

Translation by Kabir Helmenski

03. Temen Oblak - "Dark Clouds"
Sung in Bulgarian
Adapted from a poem by Hristo Botev

Performed by Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares
with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

(inspired by clouds)

Commissioned by the International Schools Choral Music
Society. First performed February 22, 2014 at the Forbidden City
Concert Hall, Beijing, China by the ISCMS Festival Orchestra and
Chorus, conducted by Christopher Tin.

Translator unknown

04. Iza Ngomso - "Come Tomorrow"
Sung in Xhosa
Adapted from 'Keramos'
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

(inspired by mist)

Commissioned by Waterford Union High School, Derek Machan,
Director of Choirs. First performed January 5, 2014 at Waterford
Union High School, Waterford, WI by the WUHS Choirs, conducted
by Derek Machan.

Translation by Kanyi Maqubela
and Vuyelwa Maqubela

05. Tsas Narand Uyarna - "The Heart of Snow"
Sung in Mongolian
Adapted from ancient Mongolian texts

Performed by Nominjin
with the Angel City Chorale, Shoji Kameda &
the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

(inspired by snow)

Commissioned by the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra. First
performed September 27, 2013 at the Colorado Christian University
Music Center, Denver, CO by Pearl Rutherford and the Musica
Sacra Chamber Orchestra, conducted by David Rutherford. Original
title: "Kawa Korwa (Swirling Snow)".

Translation by Nominjin

06. Passou o Verão - "Summer Has Gone"
Sung in Portuguese
From Sonnet CXCV by Luís de Camões

Performed by Dulce Pontes
with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

(inspired by mountain streams)

Commissioned by Alexandra Iranfar. First performed October 23,
2013 at Old First Church, San Francisco, CA by Alexandra Iranfar.
Original instrumentation: soprano and guitar. Original title: "Águas
da Mohtanha (Passou o Verão)".

Translation by William Baer

07. Devipravaha - "Goddess River"
Sung in Sanskrit
From the Gangashtakam by Adi Shankara

Performed by Roopa Mahadevan
with the Angel City Chorale, Jon Sterckx &
the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra

(inspired by a river)

Arranged from a melody written for Roopa Mahadevan. First
performed April 13, 2014 at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY by Roopa
Mahadevan with the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Choir,
conducted by Jonathan Griffith.

Translation by Shiv Subramaniam

08. Seirenes - "Sirens
Sung in Ancient Greek
From The Odyssey by Homer

Performed by Anonymous 4
with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

(inspired by the ocean)

Commissioned by the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. First
performed January 19, 2014 at the Collins Center for the Arts,
Bangor, ME by Anonymous 4 and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra,
conducted by Lucas Richman.

Translation by Rodney Merrill
09. Haf Gengr Hriðum - "The Storm-Driven Sea"
Sung in Old Norse
From the Poetic Edda

Performed by Schola Cantorum
with the Angel City Chorale &
the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

(inspired by a hurricane)

Commissioned by the Stanford Chamber Chorale. First performed
May 18, 2013 at Memorial Church, Stanford, CA by the Stanford
Chamber Chorale and Stanford Taiko, conducted by Steve Sano.
Original instrumentation: choir and taiko ensemble.

Translation by Henry Adams Bellows

10. Waloyo Yamoni - "We Overcome the Wind"
Sung in Lango
From a rainmaking litany

Performed by Soweto Gospel Choir, the Angel City
Chorale & Schola Cantorum with Anonymous 4,
Dulce Pontas, Nominjin, Roopa Mahadevan,
Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Kardeş Türküler,
Shoji Kameda & the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

(inspired by rain)

Commissioned by St. Matthew's Music Guild with support by the
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles
Arts Commission. First performed June 1, 2012 at The Parish of
St. Matthew, Los Angeles, CA by Rose Beattie, Rayvon Moore,
and The Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew's, conducted by Tom
Neenan. Original instrumentation: mezzo-soprano, tenor, chorus,
percussion and string orchestra. Original title: "Beber".

Translation by J. H. Driberg


Performed by

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Christopher Tin

Concertmasters: Clio Gould, Tamás András
Featured Soloists: Emer McDonough (flute), Phil Woods (horn),
Skalia Kanga (harp), John Alley (piano), Clio Gould (violin),
Tim Gill (cello)
Managing Director: Ian Maclay
Orchestra Contractor: James Fitzpatrick, Tadlow Music

Additional Musicians

Shoji Kameda: Udu, Frame Drum, Shakers, Bells, Bowls, Throat Singing
Jamie Papish: Darbuka, Riq
Jon Sterckx: Tabla
Burcu Yankin: Dhol, Daf
Selda Öztürk: Daf
Diler Özer: Tambourine, Shaker, Hand Cymbals

Featured Artists

Angel City Chorale
Directed by Sue Fink
Managing Director: Dan Barnett
Project Coordinator: Andrew Cheeseman

Kardeş Türküler
Lead Vocals: Feryal Öney, Fehmiye Çelik, Vedat Yıldırım
Backing Vocals: Selda Öztürk, Gürkan Salih Çakar, Fidel Kılıç
Manager: Ülker Uncu

Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares
Directed by Professor Dora Hristova, PhD
Manager: Kalina Barova
'Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares' is a trademark of
Marcel and Catherine Cellier

Soweto Gospel Choir
Directed by Diniloxolo Ndlakuse
Soloists: Victor Makhathini, Reflioe Msebenzi
Improvisations: Sipokazi Nxumalo, Phumla Nkhumeleni
Executive Producer/Director: Beverly Bryer
Company Manager: Jimmy Mulovhedzi
Soweto Gospel Choir appears courtesy of
Universal Music

Nominjin
Dulce Pontes
Roopa Mahadevan
Anonymous 4

Schola Cantorum
Directed by Tone Bianca Sparre Dahl
Leader: Lars Christen Hausken


Produced by Christopher Tin

Mixed by Andrew Dudman at Abbey Road Studios, London
Mastered by Gavin Lurssen and Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles

London
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Studio 1
Session Producers: Gareth Williams, James Fitzpatrick
Recording Engineer: Andrew Dudman
Pro Tools Operators: Lewis Jones, Paul Pritchard
Studio Assistants: Greg McAllister, Matt Jones

Istanbul
Recorded at Babajim Istanbul Studios
Recording Engineer: Saygin Özatmaca
Business and Marketing Director: Melis Tarhun

Sofia
Recorded at Bulgarian BNT TonStudio 2
Recording Engineer: Todor Lechev
Pro Tools Operator: Roumen Simeonov

Johannesburg
Recorded at SABC M3, Openroom Studios
Recording Engineer: Etienne Kruger

New York
Recorded at Avatar Studios
Recording Engineer: Anthony Ruotolo
Additional Recording by Travis Ruscil

Los Angeles
Recorded at The Village Recorder
Recording Engineer: John Kurlander
Alternate Recording Engineer: Jorge Velasco
Pro Tools Operator: Jeff Gartenbaum
Studio Assistants: Gabe Burch, Malachi Stoever
Special Thanks to Jeff Greenberg
Additional Recording at the LA Taiko Institute

Bangor, Maine
Recorded at the New England School of
Communications, Studio D
Recording Engineer: Walter Clissen
Assistant Engineer: Elijah Gudroe

Music Prep
Aaron Purvis
Laura Intravia
Jeremy Howard Beck
Matt Franko, Black Ribbon

Music Editors
Alex Williamson
Amelia Mader
Tanya Orlov

Language Assistance
Proto-Indo-European: Matthew Hohensee, Andrew M Byrd
Turkish: Ahmet Abbasoğlu
Bulgarian: Penka Kouneva, Kalina Barova
Xhosa: Kanyi Maqubela and Vuyelwa Maqubela
Mongolian: Nominjin
Portuguese: Ana Luísa Gouveia Caldeira
Sanskrit: Shiv Subramaniam, Roopa Mahadevan
Ancient Greek: Rodney Merrill, Stephen Daitz
Old Norse: Steinar Kristoffersen
Lando: Daniel Ohdango and Chris Kiagiri
Tibetan: Professor Roger R. Jackson, Liam A. Brannelly
Inuit: Liam A. Brannelly, Lawrence Millman
Phonetic Pronunciations: Grainne Ward

Package Design
Dyna Kau


Acknowledgements

Special thanks to my team: Sarah Kovacs at Kraft-Engel
Management and Sean Patrick Flahaven at Warner/Chappell;
Andrew Ousley, Brian Joosten, Jean-Philippe Rolland,
Tara Persaud and everyone at Warner Classics;
Emilie Erskine and everyone at CW3PR; Jonathan Griffith,
Iris Dirke, Kevin Taylor, and the rest of DCINY; my lawyer
Marc Ostrow; and most importantly, my beautiful wife Dyna.
Additional thanks to Danial Ho, Julie Steinbach, Steven Gehring,
Venedel Herbito, and my parents, who have always supported my
musical endeavors. Finally, this album wouldn't be possible
without the wonderful orchestras and choirs that commissioned
these works, and the faithful fans who support my music.