O Sapientia (2023)
for choir
Approx. Duration: 3’30”
Commissioned by Choir & Organ magazine in partnership with the Choir of King’s College London and supported by PRS for Music. First performance by the Choir of King’s College London under Joseph Fort (06/12/23)
‘A setting of the Latin text of the great Antiphon ‘O Sapientia’ (O Wisdom) for Advent. The piece is built on texture, starting with an atmospheric, sustained sound-world featuring a solo line above humming and echoing of the vowel sounds throughout the choir to create something like an echo chamber with modal inflections. The choir unites in delivery of the text before the words ‘O Sapientia’ emerge from the texture sparingly to foreshadow what’s to come. Later, the lower voices carry the delivery of the text while the upper voices repeat sung phrases ad libitum to give a sense of freedom both for the singers and listeners. The music then returns to the thoughtful and reflective stasis of its beginning.’ ©G.E.M.2023
©Cover Image: Digital Painting by Grace-Evangeline Mason 2023
O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
O Sapientia,
quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.