With the exception of the several sentences about St. John the Baptist, this composition sets to music the text of the Last Gospel. Free PDF is available at the bottom of this post.
Editor’s note: In the recording, there is a mistake in measure 138 in the Bass (credit should be credunt), but it is fixed in the PDF.
Overview
This text of St. John’s often follows a pattern of declaration in three statements. For example:
- In the beginning was the Word
- and the Word was with God
- and the Word was God
or
- He was in the world
- and the world was made by him,
- and the world knew him not.
This pattern of three forms the basis for the the verses of this setting. Structurally, I have divided the piece into mostly homophonic verses with two alternating, polyphonic refrains, and an occasional chant line. The initial verse, In principio erat Verbum, is unique to the piece owing to its profound statement. Both refrains immediately follow (Et verbum caro factum est and Et habitavit in nobis.) For subsequent verses, either one or the other refrain follows. After the final verse, both refrains are repeated; and a unique section, Et vidimus gloriam, closes the piece.
Related Compositions
About the Featured Image
The featured image is the Madonna with Writing Child by Pinturicchio. It is in the public domain in the United States.
