Evening Prayer

SATB, tenor sax*, piano
Lyrics: St. Augustine
Language: English
Duration: 6:00

* alternatives to tenor sax part (soprano & alto sax, trumpet, flugelhorn) are available for free download at olagjeilo.com/eveningprayer

Watch, O Lord,
with those who wake,
or watch or weep tonight,
and give your angels charge
over those who sleep.

Tend your sick ones,
O Lord Jesus Christ;
rest your weary ones;
bless your dying ones;
soothe your suffering ones;
pity your afflicted ones;
shield your joyous ones;
and all for your love’s sake.


Amen.

Evening Prayer from 2010 was my first choral work incorporating instrumental improvisation, with solo improv passages for the tenor sax (or alternative instrument).

Having grown up with my father being a good amateur saxophonist, and more recently collaborating with Phoenix-based Ted Belledin doing entire sax/piano duo concerts together that are unplanned and improvised, I wanted to find a way to combine our playing with the Chorale.

It was the final piece written for the group during my 2009-2010 residency with them, and the Chorale’s recording of the work is the final track of their 2012 Northern Lights album.