Eja Mater

Eja Mater is adapted from a movement of Kim's setting of the Stabat Mater, which was commissioned by Haderslev Domkirkes Pigekor (Haderslev Cathedral Girls Choir) and conductor Thomas Berg-Juul. This arrangement was written for World Choir for Peace and Nicol Matt for their debut album on Sony.

The piece is a prayer to the Mother of Christ but also a prayer for all parents who have lost their own child. As the Mother is called ‘fountain of love’ (fons amoris), the piece also expresses love from parents to their own children.

Special attention should be made to the intentional subtle shifts of focus during the piece. This means bringing out the cello solo from the beginning until rehearsal mark A, as well as the solo between C and E. At letter B, the choir should have the main focus in the soundscape, and at letters E and G there should be more of a duet feeling with an even balance between voices and cello. However, the nuances should be subtle enough to still have a good balance between the choir and cello throughout.

DETAILS:

• Instrumentation: SSAATTBB, cello, harp/piano
• Duration: 6 minutes
• Author/lyricist: Unknown origin
  
• Language: Latin
• Year: 2020
• Licensing: Boosey & Hawkes

THE TEXT

Eja Mater, fons amoris,
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam.

Fac ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum,
ut sibi complaceam.

English translation:

O Mother, fountain of love,
make me feel the pain of sorrow,
that I may grieve with you.

Make my heart burn
in the love of Christ my Lord,
that I may greatly please Him.

Instrumentation: SATB, SSAA, or TTBB div. unaccompanied 

Duration:5minutes

Author/lyricist:Anon 20th century

Language: English

Year: 2011

Licensing: Norsk Musikkforlag

A work about hope in the darkest time of life. The text was written by a Jew hiding in Cologne, Germany, during World War 2 where the text was found scratched onto a wall. 

Commissioned by the St. Olaf Festival (Olavsfestdagene) in Trondheim, Norway, and premiered on July 30 by the Nidaros Cathedral Girls' Choir at an event with the bishop of Nidaros Tor Singsås and actress Liv Ullmann. The SATB version was premiered by the Nidaros Cathedral Boys' Choir on November 26, 2011, in Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim. A TTBB version was commissioned and premiered by Chor Leoni and conductor Erick Lichte in 2017. Arrangments for wind ensemble or brass band are also available.

I believe in the sun, even when it's not shining.

I believe in love, even when I feel it not.

I believe in God, even when He is silent.

Anon. 20th Century