(SW 1072)

The Latin text of the present choral work, written in 1990, traces its origins back to Ambrose of Milan and Gregory the Great, who introduced the Hymnus as a night prayer for monastic use. Various versions of this night prayer, also known as Komplet, have emerged over the centuries. Here, Ridil employs the version that was in use under Pope Urban VIII.

The eight parts initially appear here in pairs, for example both sopranos or both tenors together, sometimes in canonical closeness, with the sublime sonority of the full eight-part system becoming apparent at the textual culmination points.

In this work, too, the composer transfers different parameters of the old, classic motet style into the modern era, which appears to arise organically and as naturally in front of the ear of the listener and the eye of the person reading the music, once again testifying to Ridil’s confident handling of it, based on decades of experience musical material.

Martin Schmeck

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