Ave verum

- David Andrew

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Use: Lent, Communion, General
Required Resources: SATB choir, organ
Language: Latin

One of standards in the chant repertoire is Ave verum, often sung during Lent, Holy Week, or for Communion time. The composer here has concatenated pairs of chant phrases into longer eighth note melodies. These are sung in unison or in alternation over a slowly-changing drone in the organ. This first half of the motet ends with the text: " …in examine."

The two-phrase melodies are repeated, first in unison in alto and bass with longer harmonies in soprano and tenor; then these latter two voice parts take up the melodies, with long harmonies below for alto and bass.

The motet ends with a fortissimo statement of "O Jesu fili Mariæ" The men and women sing the remaining two text phrases sequentially, ending piano, with very soft organ beneath.

David Andrew, the composer, is steeped in the British educational system, having studied and worked at Oxford University, the Royal College of Music (London), and the Dragon School (Oxford). He is currently organist at Saint Milburga Roman Catholic Church in Church Stretton, Shropshire, UK.