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Jeffrey Derus
Caribbean Blue Publishing (Jeffrey Derus)
Hymn
A prayer to Mother Mary, that she hears our cries and guides us home.
SATB Chorus with divisi, Piano, & Cello
Edgar Allen Poe is recognized for his impeccable use of imagery and mystery. “Hymn”, being one of his few sacred poems, outlines a moment when he calls to Mother Mary. He exclaims that she has heard his hymn of praise and calls her near his side. The piece opens with a simple lullaby-like melody in the piano that is carried throughout. The cello offers a calm foundation for the chorus to sing these words of praise. Once the emotion shifts to a witnessing of her great guidance, the traditional Latin prayer, “Ave Maria”, is introduced in the STB voices while the Altos are highlighted through a soloistic line. Acting as a comforting hymn-like chorus, all voices meet at the climax of the piece where we hear the final line of the Edgar Allen Poe text, “With sweet hopes of thee and thine!” Confirming the wonderous care and watch Mother Mary has over us.
Text
AT morn—-at noon—-at twilight dim—-
Maria! thou hast heard my hymn!
In joy and wo—-in good and ill—-
Mother of God, be with me still!
When the Hours flew brightly by
And not a cloud obscured the sky,
My soul, lest it should truant be,
Thy grace did guide to thine and thee;
Now, when storms of Fate o’ercast
Darkly my Present and my Past,
Let my Future radiant shine
With sweet hopes of thee and thine!
– Edgar Allen Poe
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
-Traditional Latin Prayer
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