The Woman with the Alabaster Box, The Anointing at Bethany (St Matthew 26, 6-13), for mixed choir (SATB) a cappella, Choral score

ISMN: 979-0-008-05834-9

The Woman With the Alabaster Box and Tribute to Caesar were both commissioned for the 350th anniversary of the Karlstad Diocese in Sweden in 1997. Both are settings of texts from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, and, although they stand as separate compositions, the two works do have many musical traits in common. Not the least of these is the contrasting use of chordal passages and mostly stepwise melodic declamation, both familiar elements in Pärt's music, but combined here with a new fluidity of texture and a more idiomatic moulding of choral sonorities. (Paul Hillier) Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head, as he sat at meal. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, to what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them: Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me, for ye have the poor always with you

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The Woman with the Alabaster Box