| Description |
You can watch a video of this piece at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOQpuiFrwkU
During the final seven day of Advent, December 17th-23rd, the antiphons heard during evening prayer all begin with ‘O’ and are followed by different Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah. They are known as the O Antiphons. “O Oriens” occurs on December 21st, the Winter Solstice. There is something satisfying and all-encompassing about a Christian event, marked by the use of Jewish prophecies, intoned on the shortest day of the year.
“O Oriens” is the third, and final movement, of a larger piece called Meditation for Christmas. It is proceeded by “Ave Maria” and “Gloria.” “O Oriens” is one long crescendo from a quiet beginning to final rush of sound in the organ. It is meant to elicit the stillness of the longest night with plenty of sustained notes. The opening statement is repeated at the end but raised in key and with an every quickening motive in the organ, borrowed from the “Ave Maria,” to denote the first whispers of light as the night is finally dispelled.
O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Dawn,
Splendor of eternal and sun of justice:
Come, and illuminate those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
O Oriens was premiered June 9th & 11th, 2016 by C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church Episcopal Church, New York City. |