Dennis Wu: Oratio Sancti Francisi
for chorus and piano
Oratio Sancti Francisi was written in 2005 as the final piece of a student musical Obsession. The finale, although somewhat propaganda in nature, required the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi to be read. Therefore I changed a bit of the presentation and set music to the Latin version of the prayer. Although it is part of the continuous music of the musical, Oratio was thought as a separate piece during composition, and therefore it becomes a choral piece virtually without any adaptation.
This prayer is not part of any codified text in the church; although it is widely attributed to be the prayer of St. Fracnis of Assisi, its history cannot be traced back before 1912. It has become famous only after the wars in the last century, when billions of copy of the prayers were printed for distribution during war time. The first line, ÒLord, make me an instrument of Your peace,Ó is central to the entire prayer.
Recording and Performer
This recording is recorded live at Sha Tin Town Hall on April 7, 2007.
Student Chorus of Chinese University of Hong Kong, chorus. Leon Chu, conductor.
Première
Performers: Orchestra and chorus of SKH Bishop Mok Sau Tseng Secondary School. Janet Tang, conductor.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre. July 5, 2005.
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