Awake at Last

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Camaldolese Benedictine Father Cyprian Consiglio travels widely, and it shows. His latest compositions exude the flavor of his favorite international destinations. Mixing Western chant, East Indian and Afro-Caribbean styles, Awake at Last sings of the “dying” to sin and “rising” to life in Christ we celebrate every spring.

The collection furnishes 16 new hymns, psalms, Gospel acclamations and more for liturgies throughout Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Intended for contemporary liturgical ensembles, many songs feature arrangements for piano, guitar, oboe and percussion.

Eclectic and meditative in style, the music is chant-based and -inspired in the broadest sense of the word. There are intimations of the island sound Cyprian loves and borrowings from Hindu bhajans or devotional songs. The recording features John Pennington, Cyprian’s long-time musical partner, playing a variety of exotic percussion, adding to the global flavor.

The title track is a four-part a cappella piece for Easter. A gospel-style setting of Psalm 139, it affirms Christ’s promise to “be with you always.” Other psalm settings include Psalms 27, 34, 51 and 130. The seven-and-a-half minute “Litany of the Holy Cross” is a powerful new work for Good Friday. Two Gospel acclamations and a Palm Sunday processional round out the collection.

The explicit goal of Cyprian’s ministry is to foster “contemplative experiences through music, meditation and the study of sacred texts.” Awake at Last certainly does this. Offering meditative music and Scripture-based texts, it fosters prayer, contemplation of the paschal mysteries, and full participation of the faithful throughout Lent and Easter.