O Christ the Bridegroom
SSATBB Chorus a cappella
approx. 6 min
Text from The Lenten Triodion
trans. by Benedict Sheehan
A setting of one of the hymns from the Eastern Orthodox services for Monday in Holy Week, O Christ the Bridegroom offers an intimate perspective on love for the Divine as eros. In the hymn, which draws on imagery from Gospel parables, the speaker—the self—is portrayed as a bride consumed with desire for their beloved bridegroom—Christ. I tried to draw out this passionate character in both my own translation of the original Greek text and in the music I wrote for it. A slow and haunting opening section suggests a sleeping heart in which longing for the beloved still burns deep within yet remains locked away due to inaction. The character of the music pivots on the impassioned lines “Wake me, rouse me, shake me from sleep.” From there the music quickly swells into a lively and sparkling second half, suggesting the fulfillment of the heart’s desire in joyful union with the beloved in the longed-for “bridal chamber.” Written for Christine Nass and the choirs of Villanova University for their March 2025 tour to Italy.
SSATBB Chorus a cappella
approx. 6 min
Text from The Lenten Triodion
trans. by Benedict Sheehan
A setting of one of the hymns from the Eastern Orthodox services for Monday in Holy Week, O Christ the Bridegroom offers an intimate perspective on love for the Divine as eros. In the hymn, which draws on imagery from Gospel parables, the speaker—the self—is portrayed as a bride consumed with desire for their beloved bridegroom—Christ. I tried to draw out this passionate character in both my own translation of the original Greek text and in the music I wrote for it. A slow and haunting opening section suggests a sleeping heart in which longing for the beloved still burns deep within yet remains locked away due to inaction. The character of the music pivots on the impassioned lines “Wake me, rouse me, shake me from sleep.” From there the music quickly swells into a lively and sparkling second half, suggesting the fulfillment of the heart’s desire in joyful union with the beloved in the longed-for “bridal chamber.” Written for Christine Nass and the choirs of Villanova University for their March 2025 tour to Italy.
SSATBB Chorus a cappella
approx. 6 min
Text from The Lenten Triodion
trans. by Benedict Sheehan
A setting of one of the hymns from the Eastern Orthodox services for Monday in Holy Week, O Christ the Bridegroom offers an intimate perspective on love for the Divine as eros. In the hymn, which draws on imagery from Gospel parables, the speaker—the self—is portrayed as a bride consumed with desire for their beloved bridegroom—Christ. I tried to draw out this passionate character in both my own translation of the original Greek text and in the music I wrote for it. A slow and haunting opening section suggests a sleeping heart in which longing for the beloved still burns deep within yet remains locked away due to inaction. The character of the music pivots on the impassioned lines “Wake me, rouse me, shake me from sleep.” From there the music quickly swells into a lively and sparkling second half, suggesting the fulfillment of the heart’s desire in joyful union with the beloved in the longed-for “bridal chamber.” Written for Christine Nass and the choirs of Villanova University for their March 2025 tour to Italy.