Tota pulchra es

Scoring: Soprano, Baritone, Organ
Written: London, UK - July 2011
Duration: 4'10
Publisher: Edition Peters
Cost: £1.50
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Jim was commissioned by a friend to write a setting of text from the Song of Songs for the wedding service of his eldest sister, to be performed during the ceremony by him (a baritone) and his youngest sister (a soprano).

Selected verses from The Song of Songs (c.900 BC)

Tota pulchra es, amica mea, et macula non est in te.
Surge, propera, amica mea.
Favus distillans labia tua;
mel et lac sub lingua tua;
odor unguentorum tuorum super omnia aromata.
Surge, propera, amica mea.
Tota pulchra es, amica mea.

Thou art all fair, my love, there is no flaw in thee.
Arise, make haste, my love.
Thy lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb;
honey and milk are under thy tongue;
the scent of thine ointments is beyond all spices.
Arise, make haste, my love.
Thou art all fair, O my love