Suscipe
by Gary Penkala
4-Part - Sheet Music

SATB choir, a cappella

SKU: C5.5009

Composed by Gary Penkala. This SATB setting of text from the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola combining polyphonic and homophonic textures, and features vocal ranges and a difficulty level that are comfortable for a competent parish choir. General. Published by CanticaNOVA Publications (C5.5009).

Text: Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

Suscipe, Latin for "receive," is the beginning of a prayer found in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, where it appears as an appendix to the four weeks of exercises, a "Contemplation to Obtain Love." The motet opens with a quasi-drone by the tenors and basses on the words, "Suscipe Domine," over which the sopranos and altos sing: "Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, take my memory, take my understanding, take my entire will." In homophonic then polyphonic texture, the full choir sings: "All that I have and possess Thou hast given to me. To Thee, O Lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it according to Thy will." The motet closes as it opened, with the men singing, "Dones Domine," over which the ladies sing: "Give me Thy love and Thy grace, this is enough for me." The difficulty level and vocal ranges are comfortable for a competent parish choir. The motet was written for the First Mass of Thanksgiving of The Rev. Justin B. Blanc at Saint James Church, Charles Town WV, on June 29, 2014.