Justin Appel

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the Feast of the Holy Cross, a day on which is celebrated the discovery of the true cross by St. Helena in the early 4th century, and the consecration of the first church built on the crucifixion site by her son, Constantine the Great.

On this occasion, I would like to share my favorite part of a passion cantata by Ēriks Ešenvalds, called Passion and Resurrection. Part IV of this work begins with a meditative soliloquy following this passage from the Alleluia assigned to the mass on Holy Cross — and the 6th-century hymn by Venantius Fortunatus, Pange lingua gloriosi. The soprano soloists sings the Latin text to an exotic scale, prompting the choir to echo the words serenely:

O dulce lignum, o dulces clavos,
o dulcia ferens pondera:
quae sola fuisti digna sustinere
regem caelorum et Dominum.

O sweet wood, sweet nails,
bearing sweet burdens:
you who alone were worthy to support
the king of the heavens and the Lord.

After a restive interlude played by the strings, the story returns to the scene with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, sung by the choir in spiraling harmonies, leading to repeated exclamations on the final line:

Why seek ye among the dead, as a mortal,
the One who abides in everlasting light?
Behold the linens of burial,
the Lord is risen!
- after Luke 24: 5–6

Finally, the movement ends with an atmospheric, almost ecstatic dialogue between Mary Magdalene and Jesus. This is my favorite moment in this beautiful movement:

Woman, why weepest thou?
Woman, whom seekest thou?

Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Mariam.
Rabboni.
- John 20: 15–16

I hope this music helps you get into the spirit and theme of this day!

Yours in Christ,
Justin