Help

The first in a set of three pieces based on Anne Lamott's Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, the composer expounds upon Lamott's unique take on keeping prayer simple. Translating her words into Latin, one word for each "essential prayer," drawn-out vowel syllables represent wailing in pain. Emotional anguish is represented by recurring minor second intervals; the piece ends with chanted Latin phrases as if in prayer.