Eja Mater

Adapted from a movement of Arnesen’s Stabat Mater for upper choral voices and orchestra, Eja Mater is arranged for mixed choral voices, violoncello and harp (or piano). This part of the Stabat Mater is a prayer to the Mother of Christ, but Eja Mater is also a prayer of comfort for all parents who have lost a child of their own. As Mary is called ‘fountain of love’ (fons amoris) in the Latin text from the 13th century, the piece also expresses the love of parents for their own children. Simple broken chords in the harp/piano accompanying the choir almost throughout the piece, as well as a soothing and sustained choral texture accompany the main melody first introduced in the cello. This melody is passed back and forth between the choral voices and the violoncello while maintaining its calm beauty, spiced with an occasional hint of lament and sorrow. Arnesen’s characteristic rich harmonic language pervades this piece as well, not least in a short a cappella passage. A deeply expressive work suitable for intermediate choirs.