Pie Jesu

When Kim was choosing texts for his "Requiem", he had decided not to write a "Pie Jesu". It felt like an impossible task to write a piece with a text so well known and related to some of the most admired classical pieces. But one day this melody came to him unintentionally and he could hear and sing the whole piece.

​​"Pie Jesu" is one of the movements from Kim's "Requiem" which was commissioned by the Nidaros Cathedral Boys' Choir and conductor Bjørn Moe, Trondheim in 2014. This stand-alone version may be performed unaccompanied or with organ. 

DETAILS:

• Instrumentation: SATB unaccompanied or SATB & organ
• Duration: 4 minutes
• Author/lyricist: Unknown,  13th Century
  
• Language: Latin 13th Century
• Year: 2014
• Licensing: Santa Barbara Music Publishing

THE TEXT

Pie Jesu Domine,

Dona eis requiem. 

Pie Jesu Domine,

Dona eis requiem sempiternam.   

English translation:

Pious Lord Jesus,

Give them rest. 

Pious Lord Jesus,

Give them everlasting rest.

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