Since it was the day of Preparation...

St John's Gospel (Revised Standard Version) (E); extracts from 'O filii et filiæ' (Jean Tisserand) & 'Salve festa dies' (Venantius Fortunatus) (Liber Usualis) (L); St Matthew's Gospel (Vulgate) (L)

On completing my St John Passion in 2007 I was immediately intrigued with the possibility of writing another work based on the text which comes immediately after the death of Christ in St John’s Gospel. The title of this new work is the first sentence after Jesus gives up his spirit. The work sets the final section of St John’s gospel, through the Resurrection to the final conclusive remarks.
It is scored for a small choral group, a baritone (who sings the words of Christ) and an ensemble of clarinet, horn, cello, harp and theorbo. There are three main parts, which are punctuated by solo ‘motets’ for the five instruments and each culminating in an instrumental quintet.

PART 1
Introduction - theorbo

1. The Pierced Christ
   Interlude - cello
2. The Burial
   Interlude - quintet

PART 2
3) The Empty Tomb
Interlude - clarinet
4) The Appearance to Mary of Magdala
Interlude - harp
5) Appearances to the Disciples
Interlude - quintet

PART 3
6) The appearance on the Shore of Tiberius
Interlude - horn
7) Conclusion
Interlude - quintet

Throughout, there are interpolated Latin texts from liturgy, some from Easter, some from Pentecost;
O filii et filiae (3)
Veni Sancte Spiritus (5)
Salve festa dies (6)
Tu Es Petrus (6)

James MacMillan 2012

Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer