About the series Theatre of Voices Edition is a publishing initiative founded by and under the artistic leadership of the singer and conductor Paul Hillier. Each publication is prepared carefully to meet the standards of professional choir singers and conductors of the 21st century. Commissioned for the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir at the recommendation of Nigel Haywood, then British ambassador to Estonia, to mark the occasion of the State visit to Estonia of Queen Elizabeth II in October 2006. The work is dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. For his text Tulev made a compilation of lines and phrases from Centuries of Meditationsby Thomas Traherne (1636?-1674). Traherne’s magnificent prose poems had languished in manuscript for more than two centuries before they were discovered and published by Bertram Dobell in 1908. Tulev first encountered them through hearing Gerald Finzi’s cantata ‘Dies Natalis’. vocal text Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! The Sun … the Sun is but a little spark of His infinite love... The Sea…the Sea is but one drop of His goodness … Rejoice! But what flames…. what flames of love ought that spark to kindle in your soul./You never enjoy the world aright, till the Sea itself floweth in your veins. Rejoice! … what seas of affection ought to flow for that drop in your bosom. /till you are clothed with the heavens… The heavens are the canopy and the earth is the footstool of your throne: Rejoice! /till you are clothed with the heavens, and crowned with the stars… … who reign in communion with God. Rejoice!/Till you can sing and rejoice and delight in God… you never enjoy... Till you remember how lately you were made, and how wonderful it was when you came to it: Rejoice! and more rejoice in the palace of your glory, than if it had been made but today morning. Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! The Sun, the Sea, the Heavens, Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!