Here is an instrumental demo recording of “Kyrie.” For song description and sheet music, see below.

Description: In the early months of 2015, I found himself in deep depression, was looking for some daylight, was obsessively listening to Josquin’s “Missa pange lingua” plus “Quelle est cette odeur agréable” sung by my Ottawa choir, the Stairwell Carollers.

I found inspiration in my uncle’s crazy “late in life” theoretical physics project, and it planted a seed, that maybe I too should start my own crazy “late in life” project. And I did!

This song is the first bud that bloomed 10 years ago, a short 4-part a cappella “Kyrie.”

Keen listeners will notice that (1) the melody is exactly the same as “Quelle est cette odeur agréable,” though sometimes in minor key, sometimes in major; and (2) that the structure of the piece bears a shocking resemblance to the Kyrie in Josquin’s “Missa pange lingua.”

It’s not a Kyrie that will go into the pantheon of great Kyrie’s, but, it was a first attempt at becoming a “late in life” choral composer, and for that, I will always be grateful.

Sheet music (SATB): contact rain@grampy.ca.