Awake at Last

"This new collection of hymns, psalms, Gospel acclamations, and other songs for the liturgy during Lent, Easter, and Pentecost contains accessible arrangements intended for contemporary liturgical ensembles. This particular collection mixes Western chant, East Indian, and Afro-Caribbean styles that speak of the dying to sin and the rising to life in Christ. Here are some examples of the effortless yet beautiful pieces with well-crafted texts contained in this octavo collection (individual octavos are also available).

In "Attende Domine," the tenth century Latin chant is brought to life in a contemporary setting. The gentle sixteenth-note guitar ostinato flows peacefully throughout the piece, as the keyboard provides a foundation of open fifth chords at the beginning of each phrase. (In the absence of a strong guitarist, the keyboard could also play this part.) The accompaniment and absence of meter lend themselves well to the chant and marriage of text and music in this two-part setting. The Latin text of the refrain, asking for God's mercy, is juxtaposed with a more hopeful and healing verse text in English that invokes the Trinity. This simple yet beautiful piece gives any congregation accessibility to chant for the Lenten season.

"Leave the Past in Ashes," another Lenten song, employs the antiphon from Joel 2 that the Roman Missal offers to accompany the distribution of ashes. The verses are taken mainly from Psalm 30 and highlight the praise already evident in the prayer for mercy; the final verse is derived from Psalm 63. Scored for piano, guitar, oboe, and cello, it is recommended that light percussion also be used to keep the piece from becoming too heavy. The oboe adds a nice color that alternates between major and minor modes. The tessitura is comfortable for the congregation (B3ù05), and the only harmony line is easily attained for tenors and sopranos, reaching E-flat5. The fourth verse adds a nice layer as the piece progresses, echoing the melody line and then becoming homorhythmic with it."

--Rachelle Kramer, Pastoral Music