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

CANTICUM, 8', Paris, 1995, U.M.P., à ma fille Katia-Sofia, Naji Hakim, Collège du Sacré-Coeur, Beirut, Lebanon, 21.12.95

The three sections of this suite borrow their titles from and freely paraphrase gregorian chants from Advent: the hymn Conditor alme siderum, the canticle Rorate coeli desuper and the last of the seven great antiphons, O Emmanuel. The Central section of the first movement also comments upon the hymn Veni Redemptor gentium.

The verses from the Song of Solomon and The Book of Revelation, quoted at the head of each movement, evoke the love between God and his people.

Conditor alme siderum

"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits." (Song of Solomon, 4.16)

Rorate coeli desuper

"Open to me my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: For my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night." (Song of Solomon, 5.2)

O Emmanuel

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come." (Book of Revelation, 22.17)