Easter Antiphon

for SATB Choir

In 2000 I wrote a piece of music for Easter. I was inspired by the text I chose, an easter antiphon, a text used in the catholic church many years ago to commemorate the resurrection of Christ. At midnight the clergy would enter the church in silence, carrying the cross to the high altar. Then candles were lit and a solemn procession with the cross through the church, cloister, or cemetery. The antiphon was sung, the first part softly to symbolize the sadness of the souls in limbo, the second with voices raised in jubilation in celebration of Christ’s return, whilst acolytes rang small bells…

Come, that which we desire and await in darkness,
Come, that which summons us from the dark night of our locked prisons.
For we proclaim with great sighing, and await with great lamenting,
your work which, we expect with longing hope,
will console us in our torment.
Alleluia
 

 I have always been interested in the connections between easter and earlier, pagan, ceremonies celebrating the re-birth of spring—something, particularly in Ontario that I can associate with very well… This piece of music is my attempt to communicate what it might have felt like to people many years ago, when life was hard, and Easter and Spring combined to represent the move from darkness to light.

Play 1. Cum Rex Laurier

If you would like to perform this piece, please feel free to Download Easter Antiphon - Cum Rex in pdf and print it. I would appreciate knowing when and where you perform the piece.

Click to access Easter-Antiphon-Cum-Rex.pdf

Play 2. Alleluia

If you would like to perform this piece, please feel free to Download Easter Antiphon - Alleluia! in pdf and print it. I would appreciate knowing when and where you perform the piece.

Click to access Easter-Antiphon-Alleluia.pdf