Rorate (2006)
For St. Jude's Carol Service
'Rorate' was written for St. Jude's Church Englefield Green for their Carol Service on the 17th December 2006. The words are taken from the opening of Isaiah 45:8. The text is used frequently both at Mass and in the Divine Office during Advent, as it gives exquisite poetical expression to the longings of Patriarchs and Prophets, and symbolically of the hurch, for the coming of the Messiah. Throughout Advent it occurs daily as the versicle and response at Vespers. For this purpose the verse is divided into the versicle, "Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum" (Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just), and the response: "Aperiatur terra et germinet salvatorem" (Let the earth be opened and send forth a Saviour"). My setting divides the text in the same way. This division is emphasised by the versicle being sung by a soloist.
Work on the setting began on the 9/11/06 when the opening organ part was improvised (bb1-12). This material became the focus for the setting. The Soprano solo (bb13-31) was written on the 13/11/06 and consists of a variation of the opening material with a counter melody given to the soprano for the versicle. The response (bb32-46) was completed on the 16/10/06 and introduces a new more romantic theme for the words "Let the earth be opened and send forth a Saviour." The last part of the response (bb47-59) was completed on the 21/11/06. The rest of the setting was completed on the 22/11/06 with the final edit being made on the 23rd.
'Rorate' was written for St. Jude's Church Englefield Green for their Carol Service on the 17th December 2006. The words are taken from the opening of Isaiah 45:8. The text is used frequently both at Mass and in the Divine Office during Advent, as it gives exquisite poetical expression to the longings of Patriarchs and Prophets, and symbolically of the hurch, for the coming of the Messiah. Throughout Advent it occurs daily as the versicle and response at Vespers. For this purpose the verse is divided into the versicle, "Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum" (Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just), and the response: "Aperiatur terra et germinet salvatorem" (Let the earth be opened and send forth a Saviour"). My setting divides the text in the same way. This division is emphasised by the versicle being sung by a soloist.
Work on the setting began on the 9/11/06 when the opening organ part was improvised (bb1-12). This material became the focus for the setting. The Soprano solo (bb13-31) was written on the 13/11/06 and consists of a variation of the opening material with a counter melody given to the soprano for the versicle. The response (bb32-46) was completed on the 16/10/06 and introduces a new more romantic theme for the words "Let the earth be opened and send forth a Saviour." The last part of the response (bb47-59) was completed on the 21/11/06. The rest of the setting was completed on the 22/11/06 with the final edit being made on the 23rd.
