O Light born of Light
This piece was created in 2013 during a period in which I wrote several pieces for choir in just a few weeks, inspired by a recent project with the Rhineland-Palatinate Youth Choir. In this project, Morten Lauridsen's O nata lux was on the program, which inspired me to set the corresponding english text "O Light born of Light" to music.
The piece consists of two slightly contrasting sections: the first is written in melodious, homophonic chords that express the confidence of the worshippers. The second is a fugal section that slowly builds with increasing excitement until the reprise, in which the first part of the prayer is repeated emphatically once more, before the piece ends in a coda with a solo voice floating above the rest of the choir.
The piece premiered in 2015 by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber Choir under the direction of Martina Jutz.
O Light born of Light:
O Light born of Light,
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
with loving-kindness deign to receive
suppliant praise and prayer.
Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh
for the sake of the lost,
grant us to be members
of thy blessed body.
Choir: SSAATTBB
Length: 4 min
Kammerchor Rheinland-Pfalz, conductor: Martina Jutz, 2015