in paradisum

Duration approximately 6’00.

Performed by the Phoenix Chamber Choir.

Performed by the Vancouver Peace Choir.

This piece has some of my absolute most favorite musical moments of gnarly grinding chords giving way to sonic caramel.

The ending also holds a special significance for me: The main motif of the whole piece ends up capitulating to the last of its endurance and becomes resigned into to a fated chant on the word, aeternam (Eternity). Whenever I send this score to people I tell them to play the last page first as it never fails to cause a pitter-patter of the heart.

Text from the Requiem Mass

In paradisum deducant te Angeli;

in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres,

et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem.

Chorus angelorum te suscipiat,

et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.