Tom Godell replies to Jim Tobin:

>>There is nothing subtle about the piece, for sure, and the harmony is
>>basic.  I wouldn't call the rhythm static, or the texts poorly set;
>>rather, the former are designed to belt out the latter.
>
>Oh, please!  Let me cite just one example of poor text setting.  Right at
>the beginning of the Testament of Freedom, RT has the chorus sing: "The
>god who gave us life gave us liberty...  (then, after a pause) at the same
>time..." When I first heard this, I thought that the words "At the same
>time..." indicated the beginning of a new sentence.  Thus, the meaning--not
>to mention the dramatic impact--of Jefferson's powerful statement are lost.

These things are elusive, to say the least.  To me, that isolation is
masterful, so far as allowing the words to be heard.  I say this as an
admirer of Thompson, but not of The Testament, which I find, except for the
opening movement, melodically dull.  As a professor of mine used to say,
"Every composer has his dung heap." I suppose it's a question of how large
a heap.

Steve Schwartz