Title, Duration, Place, Year, Publisher, Dedicated to, Premiere (performer(s), place, date)

LES NOCES DE L’AGNEAU for Orchestra (2222/2200, timp, perc, strings), 18', Paris/Bayonne, 1996, U.M.P., à ma fille Katia-Sofia, Royal Academy of Music Sinfonia, dir.: Lutz Köhler, Duke's Hall, R.A.M.,London, 20.11.98

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Les Noces de l'Agneau is a set of three meditations on the Paschal mystery. The following biblical extracts form the spiritual and theological essence of the work:

Une Fête de Feu
"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made himself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure ... Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." (Revelations, 19. 6-9)

Le Bien-Aimé drapé de pourpre
"... because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah, 53. 12)

L'Esprit et l'Épouse 
"And I saw the holy city, new Jersualem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelations, 21. 1)

The three movements are based on bi-thematic and cyclic material drawn from the Gregorian service for Easter, specifically the triple acclamation 'Lumen Christi - Deo gratias' which accompanies the solemn procession of the Paschal candle at the beginning of the vigil, and the antiphon for Vespers: 'Ego dormivi, et somnum cepi: exsurrexi, quoniam Dominus Suscepit me, alleluia'

© Naji Hakim