Six Bible Poems: 5 - The Last Supper

5. - The Last Supper (St. Luke xxii, 14)

Of the Fifth Poem, the composer writes: This Prelude is in sharp contrast to the one above (4. Hosanna). The theme is that of the melancholy which overcomes the creative spirit of one who knows that not only is his work but his very life has come to an end."

It is a very sad piece, and I think is the "longest" of the group. This is the only one of the six that makes virtually no "changes" in the registration. I tried it several ways, but found that none of the Solo stops seemed to be able to "sustain" the entire heartbreaking movement. I chose to make it an "alternating duet" between the Cor anglais and Viola da Gamba, both on the Solo.

It's a very sad movement, as you would expect.