Ponniah, Ben - O sacrum convivium

for mixed voices (SATB with divisi) a cappella
Text: Latin
Duration: c3'30"
Difficulty: 4/5

Composer’s note
O sacrum convivium was written in 2007 – it is one of my earliest choral compositions. Olivier Messiaen’s setting had a profound impact on me as a young chorister. As John Cooper, the then Choirmaster of St Mary-le-Tower Church, read through and discussed the translation of this Latin text, I was starting to connect Messiaen’s intoxicating, yet somehow purifying, musical choices with the colour and smell of communion wine (I had not been confirmed at this stage). Having become interested in jazz piano, I decided to compose my own setting of this transcendent text, blending holy minimalism, rich jazz-infused harmonies and impressionism.

Text
O sacrum convivium,
in quo Christus sumitur:
recolitur memoria passionis eius:
mens impletur gratia:
et futuræ gloriæ nobis pignus datur,
alleluia.

O sacred banquet,
in which Christ is received:
the memory of His Passion is recalled:
the mind is filled with grace:
and a pledge of future glory is given to us,
alleluia.