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  Honneger: King David

  WCU Concert Choir and Mastersingers with Chamber Ensemble and Ryan Kelly , conducting

  In 1920, French dramatist René Morax authored a four-hour biblical stage drama on the life of David. Inspired by structures of Hindu theatre, he wrote many short scenes that would be executed in rapid succession. Morax wanted incidental music between scenes throughout the play; however, he completed the play in December, 1920 with only six months until the work’s scheduled premiere. When several composers declined Morax’ request to compose the music because of the time constraints, he asked conductor Ernest Ansermet and composer Igor Stravinsky for their recommendation. Both of them recommended then twenty-eight year old Arthur Honegger (1892-1955), a Swiss native composing in France.