Gradual for Easter Sunday (Ps 119: 24 & 1; Ps 106: 1) (L)
Abbreviations (PDF)
Boosey & Hawkes
I made my setting of the Easter Gradual Haec dies for seven combined choirs from the Minneapolis/St Paul area in Minnesota for a festival of my music there in April 2025. The world premiere took place in the Cathedral of St Paul. It is a setting of a psalm extract sung at Easter Sunday liturgies: This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be glad and exult in it. Alleluia.
It is based on a reedy, slow-moving ground bass sounded on the organ. At first the choir sings in unison, then in two separate parts, then divided into the usual four parts. At this point some fast, decorative repetitive patterning emerges high on the organ and leads us to the exultemus section. After the first alleluia there is a huge, loud climax on the organ, followed by a more serene middle section. A version of the ground bass returns over which the choir sings a contrapuntal alleluia, leading to the final exultant climax.
James MacMillan, 2025
Reproduction Rights:
This note may be used in concert programmes with a credit to the composer