As a composer, I am constantly searching for texts to inspire me. When I came across the Thomas Traherne poem, I was immediately struck by its unusual perspective in the realm of spiritual writings. Traherne uses personal and descriptive language to portray a very profound vision of God "condescending" to fully experience creation. Here, the soul, or an implied Christ figure experiences the wonders of creation and human feelings walking on earth.
Musically, three aspects of the poem are set:
1. God/ Angel Trio- The descending theme at A and the angel trio, presents an image of God coming to earth.
2. Christ/The Soul- The personal "witness" of the wonders of creation is expressed by the soloist.
3. Earth- The ascending theme at C, sung by full chorus, represents creation reaching heavenward.
In the final chorus of the work, all three elements are brought together- as the poems states: "but all combine." -Rupert Lang
Choral score for unaccompanied mixed voices (SATB).