Berceuse 

Organ, c. 5’ 00”

Commissioned by Lee Ryder for Shannon Mathai in honor of the births of Selah and Marin

This piece combines two tunes, Divinum Mysterium (popularly known as the hymn “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”) and the plainchant associated with Ave Maris Stella, in a warm and free-flowing lullaby. While the lush accompanying organ textures are often tinged with joy, they are sometimes shaded with darkness, as many lullabies are, when conflicting harmonies collide. At the end of the piece, a steady heartbeat emerges and the music gets quieter and quieter, as if one is trying to lay a sleeping baby down in their crib without waking them up.

The two tunes are in honor of my daughter Marin, born in October 2022, and Ms. Mathai’s daughter Selah, born in August 2023.

Click here for perusal score.