Abyssinia

Jacob French’s Abyssinia is a substantial sacred work for SSATB choir. The music opens with a grand, homophonic statement that establishes the piece’s reverent mood. The text, in English, speaks of Christ’s divine nature and his pre-eminence over angels, referring to him as the ‘bright and morning-star’. The second verse marvels at the incarnate Christ’s glorious grace, contrasting it with humanity’s previous blindness. French’s setting enhances the text’s theological contemplation with rich, imitative passages and dramatic harmonic shifts, creating a powerful and moving expression of faith.