OCK AV TÖRNEN
(…and also thorns)

– lament for saxophone quartet and female voice

– Klagosång /Lament; ca 7,5 min

– Jag lyfter blicken/ I lift up my eyes to you; ca 4 min

– Måste ock av törnen vara/…and also thorns; ca 4 min

– Rädda mig ur dyn/ Rescue me from sinking in the mire; ca 4,5 min

Duration ca 21 min

Rädda mig ur dyn (movt 4) could also be performed seperately

Texts from The Book of Psalms and the Swedish Hymnal

Composed for Susanne Rosenberg and Stockholm Saxophone Quartet.
Commissioned by Rikskonserter

Texts:

…AND ALSO THORNS

1. Zion laments forth great pain/ Weeps in desolation/ Pours out suffering and shame/ To the heart’s creation./ Says the Lord my God/ Abandoned me on this shore/ To be rescued nevermore/ Bereft of staff and rod.(Swedish Hymnal)

Save me, O God,/ for the waters have come up to my neck./ I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold./ I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me./ I am worn out calling for help;/ my throat is parched./ My eyes fail, looking for my God. (Book of Psalms 69:1-4)

2. I lift up my eyes to you,/ to you whose throne is in heaven / I lift up mine eyes/ I lift up my hands/ Whence cometh my help? (Book of Psalms 123:1 and more)

3. It must also thorny be/ This thy crown, my bride./ Thy tears the brightest pearls of the sea/ Mournful songs, thy sighs/ Raise up now thine eyes and see/

Beyond this worldly misery/ Heavens opened, palm conceived/ Blessed crown of life achieved.(Swedish Hymnal)

4. Rescue me from sinking in the mire (Book of Psalms 69:14)
 

English translation, except those from the Bible, by Linda Schenck