Venite, Adoremus

Each December, Norwich Cathedral celebrates the impending birth of Jesus Christ in words and music with a “Christmas Procession”. VENITE, ADOREMUS was composed as a choral fanfare at the climactic end of the service, as the procession has concluded its pilgrimage around the Cathedral to the crib and back, gathered finally in the south transept. The piece’s brassy texture, vivacious rhythmic figurations and excitable harmony herald triumphantly the arrival of the Christ-child.

The first performance was given in Norwich Cathedral on 14th December 2014 by the Cathedral Choir conducted by Ashley Grote.

The text is the familiar chorus of “O Come, All Ye Faithful”.

Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.
Oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Glory to God, all glory in the highest.
(Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.)

from ‘O Come, Let Us Adore Him’ (Venite, Adoremus) translated by J.F. Wade (1711-1786)