Ave Verum (from Songs of Paece)

Description

The 14th-century Eucharistic text ‘Ave verum' has been set to music by many composers over the centuries, no doubt due to its vivid and powerful imagery. This setting is taken from the fourth movement of a larger work, Songs of Peace, which was written in memory of Iris Todd. The melodic shape should be enjoyed and the larger leaps smoothly joined rather than separated. When the piece splits into two parts, the melody should come through the texture with the descant floating on top and interweaving but not obstructing. The occasional optional divisi will add extra harmonic effects if included.