The Cups of Communion

SATB Soloists, Choir, and Keyboard

Approximately 3 and a half minutes in duration

Completed 05/15/2021 in Baton Rouge Louisiana

Commissioned by University Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge Louisiana

The Cups of Communion goes through each of the four themes brought up in the Christian Communion ritual. Looking back to its roots in the Jewish Passover meal, the music is divided into four unique sections, each representing a cup that the observers would drink from at various points in the meal. Each drink had a specific meaning to the Jewish people, from which the text of this song comes from:

• The Cup of Sanctification remembers, “I will lead you from under the burden of the Egyptians.”

• The Cup of Plagues remembers, “I will deliver you from their bondage.”

• The Cup of Redemption remembers, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgement.”

• The Cup of Praise remembers, “I will take you for my people.”

This specific text comes from Dr. Samuel Nadler’s book “Messiah in the Feasts of Israel” (2010), published by World of Messiah Ministries if you would like to learn more. The text summarizes the events of the Jewish people as they escaped from slavery under the Egyptians, an event which was remembered each year through the holiday of Passover. This meal was the basis for the first Christian communion, something that is still observed to this day in Christian churches around the globe.

In this song, I work between developing a chant-like structure based off the portion of the lines referring to the title of the cup, and more melodic lines build from the portion of the text in quotations.

Check out the score below: