Ave Verum Corpus

A rapt meditation on this sacramental medieval poem, composed to mark the 400th anniversary of the of St John Ogilvie at Glasgow Cross in 1615 in a performance by pupils from six local junior schools. Masterfully cast with young children in mind, the vocal material is expressive and diatonic throughout, with some optional divisi. The organ accompaniment is soft, with gentle manual clusters giving a punctuating effect in the outer sections, framing a central passage of sustained chordal texture. Momentary chromatic tension in the postlude is dispelled by a peaceful resolution.