Tristis est anima mea

SATB divisi, 3’40”

The text of Tristis est anima mea is the second responsory of the Tenebrae for Maundy Thursday. The opening lines are from Matthew 26:38, where Christ is in the Garden of Gethsemane and soon to be dragged away from his disciples. The opening figure is followed by a single voice that emerges from within the choir, and gradually transitions to four-part polyphonic layers. The return of the opening theme is followed by a chant-like texture in the female voices, and the closing aleatoric passage alludes to Christ’s foretelling of his betrayal and eventual crucifixion. The work is dedicated to Ellissa Sayampanathan, a dear friend who has very kindly included this piece as a premiere in Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge.

This work is published by Muziksea. Sample score and purchase of music can be done here.