O Absalom

The form of this piece consists of three dirges and a refrain. The first dirge for tenor solo or unison tenor 1 section, represents the lone voice of the bereaved father, King David, calling out in realization upon hearing the news of the loss of his son. Dirge 2 is imitative in nature, inspired by the image of King David moving through the cavernous passageways of his palace, his lamenting voice echoing throughout; one could similarly imagine his forlorn thoughts echoing around his mind. The third dirge is homophonic, chorale-like: the king in his chamber over the gate, still inconsolable; one could similarly think of this as a chorale in memory of Absalom himself.