O Oriens (from O Antiphons) – Carol Barnett

Composer: Carol Barnett Text by: Traditional text Instrumentation: SATB and organ Duration: Approx. 1:45 minutes Date Written:  2022 If you are interested in purchasing the full work click here. Composer’s note: Based on the traditional Gregorian chant, these new settings of the seven traditional Advent antiphon texts each implore God to “Come, teach us, redeem us, deliver us, shine upon us.” All seven of these texts are similar in structure; each is addressed to, and describes, an aspect of the messianic hopes found in the Old Testament – O Wisdom, O Leader of the House of Israel, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Radiant Dawn, O King of the Nations, O Emmanuel. And all of the antiphons end with the supplication “Come” – to teach, redeem, deliver, save us. The music follows this same two-part structure. The first part of each antiphon describes the particular messianic aspect: for example, Radiant Dawn is supported by a light 16th -note ostinato; mirroring melodic lines describe the