Exaudi
For SATB Choir Duration:
8:00
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The Psalms of
King David express an incredible range of emotions --- from unrestrained joy to
the most abject despair and profound repentance. But throughout all of his
psalms what we see over and over again is the intensely personal relationship
David has with God --- and the unmistakable implication that such a
relationship is possible for all believers.
The
verses I have set to music in Exaudi are drawn not from one Psalm, but
from a number of different Psalms: 39, 51, 102 and 130. It should noted that
the pace at which the text unfolds in the piece is by no means uniform. The
first third of the piece sets only the first line --- this in a 12-part
contrapuntal texture. Later, at the climactic setting of 'Remitte mihi', there
is a similarly single-minded focus on only one small section of text. This
parallel to the beginning is reinforced by the complexity of texture: a
double-canon involving the fourth and fifth lines of text.
'Exaudi' means, 'hear me.' In all
the many different forms of prayer, I think there is one fundamental thing we
all want: to be heard by our God. And that was, at heart, the
inspiration for this piece.
This recording took place on in
December 1999 by the University Singers of California State University Hayward,
CA; David Stein, conductor
|
Exaudi orationem meam
Domine. Non avertas faciem tuam a
me -- De profundis clamavi ad te Domine: |
|
Hear my prayer, O Lord. Do not turn your face
away from me -- Out of the depths I have
cried to you, O Lord: |
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