James MacMillan: Divo Aloysio Sacrum

  


A highly effective and extremely straightforward setting of a text from an inscription over the door into a Jesuit church in Glasgow. The piece begins with a forceful SATB prayer in English (perhaps inspired by the stone on which the inscription was carved) calling for Saint Aloysius to ‘pray for us’. The second, more reflective section (with tenors divided but in the same rhythm), repeats the prayer in Latin, and the final section is an exact repeat of the first. In its very simplicity lies its spiritual directness and success. The optional organ accompaniment merely doubles the vocal parts if pitch needs to be supported.