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:
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Instrumentation: SSAATTBB, cello, harp/piano
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Duration: 6 minutes
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Author/lyricist: Unknown origin
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Language: Latin
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Year: 2020
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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.
