O sacrum convivium

Written in 2007, O sacrum convivium is one of Ben Ponniah’s earliest choral compositions. Olivier Messiaen’s setting had a profound impact on Ponniah as a young chorister. As he read the translation of this Latin text (‘O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received’), the future composer started to connect Messiaen’s intoxicating, yet somehow purifying, musical choices with the colour and smell of communion wine. Later, having become interested in jazz piano, Ponniah decided to compose his own setting of this transcendent text, blending holy minimalism, rich jazz-infused harmonies and impressionism. The result is a sublime setting offering a challenge to intermediate choirs and a show piece for more advanced ensembles.