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Mixed Choir
Solo Voice
Wedding Cantata (2014)
for tenor and baritone soli, SATB choir, and organ
Text: Latin Vulgate
Duration: 20 minutes
Difficulty: 3/4
Currently unperformed. Version with string orchestra in preparation.
Wedding Cantata was written for my husband Nick on the occasion of our first wedding anniversary. The texts in this work were all taken from our wedding ceremony: the four scriptural readings, as well as the celebrant’s invitation and blessing. Wedding Cantata is structured in two large sections, each approximately ten minutes. The first half consists of a processional, a brief duet, and an aria from each soloist. After this, an intermezzo, played by the strings alone, represents the actual moment of spiritual binding. In the second half, the chorus enters with a chanted prayer and an anthem, ending with a final blessing. In this piece, I aimed to create a work which was emotionally satisfying, one which openly acknowledged and celebrated the religious union of two men through deeply personal music.
Click here to see the complete score.
Live recording currently unavailable. MIDI available on request.
Full Text
I. Prelude (Instrumental)
II. Invitation
(I John 4:16)
God is love;
and he that dwelleth in love,
dwelleth in God, and God in him.
II. Invitation
(I John 4:16)
Deus caritas est:
et qui manet in caritate,
in Deo manet, et Deus in eo.
III. Edict
(Colossians 3:12-17)
Put on therefore,
as the elect of God,
holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind,
meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another,
and forgiving one another,
if any man have
a quarrel against any:
even as Christ
forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things
put on charity, which is
the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God
rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are
called in one body;
and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly
in all wisdom;
teaching
and admonishing
one another
in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs,
singing with grace
in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever
ye do in word
or deed,
do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God
and the Father by him.
III. Edict
(Colossians 3:12-17)
Induite vos ergo,
sicut electi Dei,
sancti, et dilecti,
viscera misericordiae,
benignitatem, humilitatem,
modestiam, patientiam:
supportantes invicem,
et donantes vobis ipsis
si quis adversus
aliquem habet querelam:
sicut et Dominus
donavit vobis, ita et vos.
Super omnia autem haec,
caritatem, quod est
vinculum perfectionis:
et pax Christi exultet
in cordibus vestris,
in qua et vocati estis
in uno corpore:
et grati estote.
Verbum Christi habitet
in vobis abundanter,
in omni sapientia,
docentes,
et commonentes
vosmet ipsos,
psalmis, hymnis,
et canticis spiritualibus,
in gratia cantantes
in cordibus vestris Deo.
Omne, quodcumque
facitis in verbo
aut in opere,
omnia in nomine
Domini Jesu,
gratias agentes Deo
et Patri per ipsum.
IV. Canticle
(Song of Solomon 2:10-13)
My beloved spake,
and said unto me,
Rise up,
my love,
my fair one,
and come away.
For, lo,
the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear
on the earth;
the time of the singing
of birds is come, and
the voice of the turtle
is heard in our land;
The fig tree putteth forth
her green figs, and
the vines with the tender
grape give a good smell.
Arise, my love,
my fair one,
and come away.
IV. Canticle
(Song of Solomon 2:10-13)
Et dilectus meus
loquitur mihi:
Surge, propera,
amica mea,
formonsa mea
et veni.
Iam enim
hiemps transiit;
imber abiit, et recessit.
Flores apparuerunt
in terra nostra;
tempus putationis
advenit:
vox turturis audita est
in terra nostra;
ficus protulit
grossos suos;
vineae florent
dederunt odorem.
Surge, amica mea,
speciosa mea,
et veni.
V. Intermezzo (Instrumental)
VI. Prayer
(Ephesians 3:14-19)
For this cause
I bow my knees unto
the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
of whom
the whole family
in heaven and earth
is named,
That he would grant you,
according to the riches
of his glory,
to be strengthened
with might by his Spirit
in the inner man;
that Christ may dwell
in your hearts
by faith; that ye,
being rooted and
grounded in love,
May be able
to comprehend
with all saints
what is the breadth,
and length,
and depth,
and height;
And to know
the love of Christ,
which passeth
knowledge,
that ye might
be filled with all
the fulness of God.
VI. Prayer
(Ephesians 3:14-19)
Huius rei gratia
flecto genua mea ad
Patrem Domini nostri
Jesu Christi,
ex quo
omnis paternitas
in caelis et in terra
nominatur,
ut det vobis
secundum divitias
gloriae suae,
virtute corroborari
per Spiritum eius
in interiore homine,
habitare Christum
per fidem
in cordibus vestris:
in caritate radicati,
et fundati,
ut possitis
comprehendere
cum omnibus sanctis,
quae sit latitudo,
et longitudo,
et sublimitas,
et profundum:
scire etiam
supereminentem
scientiae caritatem
Christi,
ut impleamini
in omniem
plenitudinem Dei.
VII. Anthem
(Psalm 100)
Make a joyful noise unto
the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord
with gladness:
come before his presence
with singing.
Know ye that
the Lord he is God:
it is he that hath made
us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and
the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with
thanksgiving, and into
his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him,
and bless his name.
For the Lord
is good; his mercy
is everlasting; and
his truth
endureth to all
generations.
VII. Anthem
(Psalm 100)
Jubilate Deo,
omnis terra:
servite Domino
in laetitia.
Introite in conspectu
eius, in exultatione.
Scitote quoniam
Dominus ipse est Deus:
ipse fecit nos,
et non ipsi nos:
populus eius, et
oves pascuae eius:
introite portas eius
in confessione, atria
eius in hymnis:
confitemini illi.
Laudate nomen eius:
quoniam suavis est
Dominus, in aeternum
misericordia eius, et
usque in generationem
et generationem
veritas eius.
VIII. Blessing
(Numbers 6:24-26)
The Lord bless thee,
and keep thee:
The Lord make his face
shine upon thee, and
be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his
countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace.
VIII. Blessing
(Numbers 6:24-26)
Benedicat tibi Dominus,
et custodiat te.
Ostendat Dominus
faciem suam tibi, et
misereatur tui.
Convertat Dominus
vultum suum ad te,
et det tibi pacem.