Anima Christi/Seven Last Words

Baritone solo, SATB and bell

Anima Christi is a medieval prayer which is probably best known to most through the hymn ‘Soul of my Saviour’. This piece sets the words of the prayer to an alternating A minor – A flat major pattern, mirroring the pattern of breathing. Against this, the seven last utterances of Christ as recorded in the Gospels are sung by a baritone soloist. The overall effect is one of stillness and meditation, allowing the listener to reflect deeply on the events of that fateful day almost two thousand years ago.