Blessed Mary
Jay Anthony Gach
About this work:
'Blessed Mary'
Blessed Mary, mother virginal,
Perfect maiden, star of the sea,
Have remembrance on the final day
On thy poor servant praying to thee.
Mirror without spot, red rose of Jerico,
Close garden of grace, hope in despair,
When my soul the body parte fro,
Succour it from my enemies' rage.
Blessed Mary, mother virginal,
Perfect maiden, star of the sea.
text: anonymous 15th C. England
based on the Latin "Ave Maris Stella".
BLESSED MARY” is a short, anonymous 15th century English poem inspired by lines from the well-known Latin verse “Ave Maris Stella”. I have composed an satb choral setting with alto recorder (or any other treble woodwind) obbligato on the text. In my setting there is a purposeful juxtaposition between the simple and pure, diatonic singing of the ecclesiastical text by the chorus and the skepticism and plaintive searching for understanding suggested in the chromatic alto recorder solos. The struggle between skepticism and ecclesiasticism is a common theme throughout Christianity. My short Carol tries to suggest the possibility of an accommodation: that by giving voice to the skeptic the convictions of the faithful can be strengthened and one, indeed, can enrich the other through the mutual exchange of ideas. JAG
Version: w/recorder/woodwind obbligato,
Year composed: 2004
Duration: 04:00:60
Ensemble type: Chorus, with or without Solo Voices:Chorus with One Non-Keyboard Instrument
Instrumentation:
Instrumentation notes: obbligato solo woodwind instrument