DESCRIPTION

This piece is a jubilant and dancelike setting of a stirring ancient text, which describes in mystical language how the wonder of Christ's birth should cause us to wake from our “sleep.”

I created this piece to be challenging but rewarding. The vocal lines are quite contrapuntal and seem to “chase” each other throughout the piece. This creates a complex tapestry of movement and energy befitting the proclamation of “Arise and wake!”

TEXT INFO

Out of Your Sleep, Arise and Wake!

Anonymous 14th or 15th-century text

Complete text:

Out of your sleep, arise and wake!
For God mankind now hath ytake   [“ytake” = taken]
All of a maid without any make;   [“make” = equal]
Of all women she beareth the bell.   [“she beareth the bell” = she's the leader]

And through a maiden fair and wise
Now we are made of full great price;
Now angels kneel to our service,
And at this time all this befell.

Now we are brighter than the sun;
Now we in heaven on high shall won;   [“won” = dwell]
Blessèd be God, this game is begun.

Whoever was thrall, now is he free!   [“thrall” = in bondage]
Whoever was small, now great is she!
Now shall God deem both thee and me
Unto His bliss, if we do well.

Now may we all to heaven wend;
Now heaven and earth to us they bend;
He that was foe now is our friend.
This is no nay that I you tell.   [“no nay” = no idle tale]

Now blessèd Brother, grant us grace
At doomès day to see Thy face,
And in Thy court to have a place,
That we may there sing Thee “Nowell.”