The Word
for unaccompanied SATB choir
VOCAL SCORE
The Word
for unaccompanied SATB choir (2016)
forperusalonly PATRICK HAWES
Duration: circa 3 minutes
Note from the composer
I have always loved the powerful poetry of the Johanine Prologue - the profound opening words of St John’s Gospel. The text, used here in The Word, reaches back to the beginning of creation and the music is therefore mystical and subdued, until the words ‘in him was life’. At this point the tonality becomes major and the aim is to convey a sense of supreme majesty - as well as a feeling of bright optimism and confidence in the light of Christ. The final section of the work becomes, in effect, a meditation on the simple but profound truth that the darkness cannot overcome the all-conquering light of our Creator.
forperusalonly
The Word (John 1: 1-5)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, published by HarperCollins publishers ©2001 Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Misterioso (con rubato) q = c.66
In pp thebegin - ning - wastheWord,andtheWordwas
In pp thebegin - ning - wastheWord,andtheWordwas
In pp thebegin - ning - wastheWord,andtheWordwas
He pp wasinthebegin- ning - withGod.
He pp wasinthebegin- ning - withGod.
He pp wasinthebegin-ning-withGod.
He pp wasinthebegin-ning-withGod. All
throughhim,
All
and
without - himwasnotany - thing - madethat
and
without - himwasnotany - thing - madethat and pp without - himwasnotany - thing - madethat
lifewasthelight ofmen. Thelightshinesinthe
lifewasthelightof men. mf lightshinesinthe
lifewasthelightof men. mf lightshinesinthe
lifewasthelightof men. mf lightshinesinthe
lightshinesinthe dark subito pp ness, - andthedarkness - has
lightshinesinthe dark subito pp ness, - andthedarkness - has
lightshinesinthe dark subito pp ness, - andthedarkness - has
lightshinesinthe dark subito pp ness, - andthedarkness - has
